Hamas leader: Too soon to discuss prisoner swap

Abu Marzouq told Ma'an TV in an interview airing Monday that reconciliation with Fatah depended on a decision from President Mahmoud Abbas and the will to "immediately implement it" when he says to do so.
 
The official also said that a unified political decision is needed to set the date and mechanism for Palestinian elections, adding that the Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah's unity government is the "only choice."
 
Abu Marzouq added that Hamas still remains strong in the West Bank, and that it had the support of Palestinians.
 
He also said Hamas was trying to remove its name from the US terrorist organizations list, and that it supports efforts to achieve statehood recognition at the United Nations.
 
Abu Marzouq's comments about a prisoner swap follow speculation that the movement holds the body of a soldier killed in fighting over the summer between Israel and Palestinian groups.
 
Hamas says it is waiting for Israel to follow through on talks that were postponed following a ceasefire after a devastating summer war. The talks have been postponed for months.