GAZA CITY, Oct 15: Hamas officials were devising a strategy with Egyptian intelligence officers on Saturday for safely transferring an Israeli soldier they have held captive for the past five years to Israel, a senior Hamas official said.

The mechanics of how to transfer Sgt. Gilad Shalit are expected to be one of the trickiest parts of the prisoner swap deal announced on Tuesday in which Israel will release 1,027 Palestinians in exchange for its soldier.—AP