AL ARISH (Egypt), Dec 28: Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of Hamas said on Thursday that Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, captured by militants in a June 25 cross-border raid from the Gaza Strip, will be freed soon.“The issue of Palestinian prisoners will be settled soon, and their release -- accompanied by that of the Israeli soldier -- will take place soon,” he told journalists at Al Arish airport in the northern Sinai.

“Pressure must continue to be exerted on Israel to close this file as quickly as possible so the Palestinian prisoners and the Israeli soldier can be freed,” Mr Haniya added.

Egypt has been mediating Shalit's release in exchange for freeing Palestinian prisoners, mainly women and children, held in Israel.

Shalit's capture sparked a major Israeli offensive against the Gaza Strip that left hundreds of Palestinians dead.

Mr Haniya, on his way to Saudi Arabia for the annual haj pilgrimage, said he would discuss with Saudi officials “developments on the Palestinian stage and in particular continuing the truce between Palestinian factions and the end of inter-Palestinian fighting.”—AFP