by Saud Abu Ramadan

    GAZA, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The indirect contacts between Israel and Hamas to free captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners have reached a deadlock, Israeli Radio reported.

    The Radio quoted a source, close to the contacts over the prisoners' swap deal to free Shalit as saying "The efforts to finalize the deal reached a deadlock," adding "this would make it impossible to finalize the deal within the coming few days."

    The source clarified that Israel refused to release al-Qasam Brigades-Hamas armed wing leaders Abdullah al-Barghouti and Ibrahim Hamed, from the West bank, who were given 67 times life sentences, in addition to a number of prisoners Israel said their hands are covered with Israeli blood.

    The sources expected that the talks would be resumed after the Muslims Holiday of Eid ul-Adha which will start on Friday and ends on Monday. The sources said the talks were postponed following deep disagreements between Hamas leadership in Damascus and Hamas leaders from Gaza.

    The disagreements emerged in the last moments between Hamas leadership of Gaza and the central leadership in Damascus. Senior Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Zahar left to Damascus to discuss the deal with Hamas bureau chief Khaled Mashaal.

    Israel's TV channel 10 reported that deep and complex differences still obstruct the deal, where the German mediator is about to loose his temper.

    The TV report added that it is premature to declare the end of the deal, adding that a frame of a deal might be announced within the coming few days. The coming days are expected to witness intensive and hard negotiations.

    Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas movement leader from Gaza told reporters, "so far there is nothing new in Shalit's case," adding the talks are still going on to finalize the deal as soon as possible.

    Al-Hayya, who is currently in Gaza told Xinhua that inside and outside leaders of the movement will hold tonight a meeting in Damascus to study several files, mainly Gilad Shalit's file and the prisoners' swap deal.

    A source revealed that Israel still rejects the release of 40 prisoners Hamas demanded to be included in the list. "This demand is obstructing the finalization of the deal," he said.

    The source declined to talk about the deals' details, where he strongly rejected to say that there are differences among Hamas leaders over finalizing the deal.

    Al-Hayya accused Israel for putting obstacles before finalizing the deal, adding that if Israel doesn't positively respond to the demands of the captors, the deal won't see the light very soon.

    The source also ruled out that the deal would see the light within this week.

    Finalizing the deal is becoming impossible because the differences are still the same between the two sides, mainly over a big number of prisoners from Gaza, the West Bank and the 1948 territories (Israel).