Hamas is losing patience with Mubarak and his sucking up to Israel, as this report from AP attests, following Mubarak's insistence that the Israeli prisoner of war Shalit is 'alive and well':
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Egypt's president didn't know what he was talking about when he said an Israeli soldier held by Palestinian militants was alive and well, a top Hamas official announced Wednesday, in rare public criticism of the Egyptian leader.
Egypt has been mediating attempts to trade hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel for Sgt. Gilad Schalit, the soldier captured by Hamas-allied militants three years ago in a cross-border raid from Gaza. Schalit has not been seen since then, and the Red Cross has not been permitted to visit him.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said Monday that Schalit was in good condition and hopefully would be released soon. Mubarak, who made the announcement during a visit to Cairo by Israeli President Shimon Peres, gave no details on where he got his information.
In Gaza, Hamas negotiator Osama al-Muzaini said Mubarak's comment was meant for "public relations consumption" and reflected his "wishful thinking." He said "nobody knows if Schalit is dead or alive," except for his captors.
Hamas has been upset with Egypt for joining Israel in an economic blockade of Gaza since the Islamic militant group seized power there two years ago. Still, up to now Hamas officials have been careful not to insult Mubarak in public, wary of antagonizing their powerful neighbor. It was not clear why al-Muzaini used such unusually blunt language. Egyptian officials did not immediately react.
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