GAZA CITY - The ball is in Israel's camp over a prisoner exchange deal for a soldier held by Gaza militants, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya said yesterday.

GAZA CITY - The ball is in Israel's camp over a prisoner exchange deal for a soldier held by Gaza militants, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya said yesterday.

"We are serious about proceeding with an exchange and we hope negotiations will lead to the freeing of our detainees from the prisons of the Israeli occupier," Haniya told reporters in Gaza City.

"The ball is in Israel's camp and everything depends on Israel's answer."

On Sunday an Israeli official said the Jewish state had received a list of people the Palestinians want freed in exchange for Gilad Shalit, a serviceman captured on June 25.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is expected to convene his security cabinet later this week to set Israel's criteria for clearing prisoners for release. - Sapa-DPA