The Hamas government in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday denied reports it plans to change the list of Palestinian prisoners to be released in return for the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Taher Al-Nunu, the government's spokesman, said in a press statement on Tuesday that Hamas does not differentiate between prisoners for their political affiliation.
He added that certain political parties tried to smear Hamas' position regarding Israel's release of a number of prisoners, adding that Hamas welcomes the release of any Palestinian prisoner and considers it a gain for the Palestinian people.
But, he noted, Hamas pointed out that Israel's release of Fatah prisoners was meant to widen the rift among Palestinians. He emphasized, however, that such practice would not push Hamas into changing the names included in the list of prisoners it presented to the Egyptian mediator in order to be released in return for Shalit.
