Iran quashes deal to free Israeli soldier

Hamas was said ready to release Shalit, sign cease-fire agreement

The Galil Report (by paid subscription only) is reporting that Hamas was willing to accept a deal this past weekend that would have allowed Gilad Shalit, the kidnapped Israeli soldier to be set free. However, Egyptian diplomatic sources say Iran applied pressure that short-circuited the dialogues.

Along with freeing Shalit, Hamas would have agreed to a cease fire with Israel and would have halted Qassam rocket attacks in and around the Gaza Strip against Jewish communities.

Israelis part of the bargain would have been to halt the ongoing military campaign in Gaza, release a number of Palestinian prisoners and put an end to the targeting of Hamas members for assasinations.

Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, at first, seemed willing to make the deal. But then, the Iranian leaders immediately stepped in and crushed the agreement.

Sources say the Iranian leaders emphatically pointed out the immense amount of financial support they give to Hamas, and forcibly telling Meshaal that he must do as he is told.