Gaza, December 22, 2009 (Pal Telegraph) - Today, senior Hamas official confirmed that the Islamic Resistance Movement had received Israel's response to a prisoner swap deal for the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

The official said that Hamas-led government was scheduled to hold its weekly meeting later Tuesday, and the deal was likely on the schedule.

On Tuesday, a German mediator arrived in Gaza Strip with Israel's response to Hamas' offer to free Shalit in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Late Monday, Israeli occupation gave the mediators its response, after talks were held at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.

"Shalit's release was Israel's top priority, but stressed that the government would not pay "any cost" to Hamas in a prisoner exchange deal "said Israeli Minister Ehud Barak today.

The Cabinet meetings finished shortly after midnight without a declaration of a decision over whether they had decided to accept or reject Hamas' offer.

After more than four hours of talks, Netanyahu's office released a statement saying only that instructions were given to the negotiating team about the continuation of efforts to bring Shalit home safe and sound, Haaretz reported.

Israeli occupation sees that most of the Palestinian prisoners from West Bank, especially those considered the most dangerous for the Israeli occupation, shall be expelled to the Gaza Strip or abroad.

Photo By Mohammed Asad