RAMALLAH, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Minister for Prisoner Affairs Wasfi Kabha said Thursday that talks on exchanging an Israeli soldier for Palestinian prisoners are suspended.

    Kabha told Voice of Palestine radio that Israeli insistence on releasing small number of Palestinian prisoners was a key factor in preventing gaining progress.

    Three Palestinian militant groups, headed by Hamas' armed wing, captured Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit and killed two others during a cross-border raid in late June and the captors demanded Israel release more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostage.

    Palestinian lawmaker and chief of the Prisoners' Committee in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) Eissa Qaraqe said on Tuesday the number of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel has been increasing in a way that prevented the Palestinians from having an exact figure.

    It is estimated that the figure of the prisoners held in Israel has exceeded 10,000.

    Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Thursday that Egypt has been playing a key role in mediation between Israel and the Palestinian captors.

    He also expressed hope that the swap could take place before the new Palestinian government of national unity takes office.