GAZA, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- The two Syrian prisoners Israel freed last week were part of a deal between the Jewish state and Palestinian fighters, an official of the Palestinian Islamic Hamas movement said on Thursday.

    "The release of the Syrian prisoners came in the context of captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit," said Osama al-Muzini, a Hamas official based in the Gaza Strip.

    In September, Israel freed 20 Palestinian female prisoners after Hamas handed out a video tape showing Shalit's status in his Gaza captivity. The film was intended to move forward indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel to exchange prisoners.

    On Oct. 16, Israel unexpectedly freed two Syrian prisoners, Bisher Maqt and Assem Walli, after holding them 25 years in custody.

    Al-Muzini refused to reveal the latest news regarding his movement's negotiations with Israel that Egypt and Germany sponsor. He only said that "the talks are going on and very active."

    Hamas wants Israel to free at least 1,000 Arab and Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit who was captured by Gaza militants in a cross-border raid near Gaza in 2006.

Special Report: Palestine-Israel Conflicts