Hundreds of prisoners could be exchanged for the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, and Hamas and Israeli officials said the deal would likely include Marwan Barghouti, a popular West Bank leader.

Hamas leaders raced to Egypt on Monday amid signs of progress on a deal to swap hundreds of Palestinian prisoners for a captive Israeli soldier held by the Islamic militant group for more than three years.

Israel has softened its terms for a prisoner swap with Hamas and the two are nearing a deal to exchange hundreds of jailed Palestinians for an Israeli soldier held in the Gaza Strip, officials said on Monday.

Israel and Hamas are close to a deal to swap 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for an Israeli soldier held for more than three years by the Islamic militant group, a Palestinian familiar with the talks said Monday.

Israel said on Monday there was no deal yet on a prisoner swap with Hamas, as efforts appeared to gather pace on an accord that could see a Gaza-held soldier exchanged for hundreds of Palestinians.

A round of meetings in Cairo and statements by senior officials have heightened anticipation that Israel and Hamas could swap hundreds of Palestinian prisoners for the Israeli solider Gilad Shalit.

A Palestinian familiar with the talks says Israel and Hamas are very close to a deal to swap 1,000 Palestinians for an Israeli soldier held for more than three years by the Islamic militant group.

Israel and Hamas appear to be moving closer to a prisoner swap in which Israel would release up to 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

Israel's captured soldier Gilad Shalit would be exchanged for up to 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in a deal that could be be finalized this week, a Hamas official told the Monitor.

Israeli President Shimon Peres confirms progress in negotiations to free 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for captured soldier Sgt. Gilad Shalit, who has been held for more than three years by the Islamic militant group Hamas.