Gaza, August 23: Hamas says acting Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas has personally intervened to prevent a prisoner exchange between the group and Israel.
Hamas spokesman Mushir al-Masri says Abbas opposes the release of Hamas officials from Israeli prison.
Masri noted that captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit–captured in 2006–would have been released in the planned exchange of prisoners.
He said the US has also intervened to thwart the exchange, because such a move would boost Hamas standing among Palestinians.
The prisoner exchange deal was reached with the mediation of Egypt. It was supposed to take place last June.
—–Agencies