Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal blamed Israel and the United States on Sunday for the deadlock in negotiations for the release of abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, according to a Tuesday report by the Al-Quds Al-Arabi. Throughout a briefing by Mashaal and senior Hamas member Izzat Ar-Rishik in Damascus for reporters from Syria and other Arab nations regarding policy issues, Mashaal stated Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu backed down from a deal and Washington demanded not to approve a deal since it would strengthen Hamas and weaken Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

Mashaal said the terror organization's main accomplishment was forcing a situation whose outcome Israel could not determine. He praised Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, with whom he met recently, and said he asked Medvedev to take off restrictions on the entrance of goods to Gaza.

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