Gaza faction sees end to hostage crisis in days

GAZA,(Reuters)

One of the three Palestinian factions holding a captured Israeli soldier in the Gaza Strip said on Saturday that it expected a solution to the crisis within days.

It was the first time since Corporal Gilad Shalit was captured in a cross-border raid in June that any of the factions has said that his release could happen soon. The Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) said in a statement that the three groups had agreed to a proposal by Egyptian mediators, though it said a deal still depended on Israel. Israeli officials made no immediate comment.

The PRC did not give details, but said the Egyptian proposal would include the release of Palestinians held by Israel.

"The dawn of freedom to the prisoners is about to rise and we expect a solution to our prisoners in few days," said a PRC spokesman, Abu Mujahed. "We confirm to you that there is a definite move in the issue of the captured soldier."