There has been "a breakthrough" in talks on freeing an Israeli soldier held captive by Palestinian militants in Gaza, the armed wing of the governing Hamas Islamist group said today without giving details.
Spokesman Abu Ubaida said Izz el-Deen al-Qassam and two other factions holding Corporal Gilad Shalit for more than six months were not yet ready to free him, but a deal could be close after what he described as a change in the Israeli position.
"There is a breakthrough in this file and we hope it will be concluded very soon," he said.
An official at Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office declined to comment. The armed factions have demanded that Israel free more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Cpl Shalit, who was abducted in late June by gunmen who burrowed into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip.
One of the groups, the Popular Resistance Committees, said that Cpl Shalit might be handed to Egypt after Israel freed a first group of prisoners. The Egyptians would keep him until Israel then released another batch.
"The swap depends on whether there is an Israeli intention to make it happen. If there is such an intention, it could happen very soon," said PRC spokesman Abu Mujahed. He did not say how many prisoners might be freed under a deal.
Mr Mujahed said that Cpl Shalit was in good health and being treated according to "Islamic values".
Cpl Shalit's abduction prompted a devastating military offensive into the Gaza Strip, from which Israel had withdrawn troops and settlers in 2005. The offensive was brought to an end by a truce in November.
Mr Olmert has said that Israel would be prepared to free Palestinians if the corporal is returned, but Israel has kept tight-lipped on details of diplomatic dealings to try to bring him home.
Mr Olmert's planned visit to Egypt this week has stirred speculation that a deal could be close. Israel does not talk to Hamas, which is formally dedicated to destroying the Jewish state, but has said it could free prisoners to President Mahmoud Abbas, a moderate who seeks an independent Palestine alongside Israel.
Israel currently holds more than 9,000 Palestinian prisoners, according to the independent Israeli human rights group B'Tselem.