Jerusalem  - Negotiations for a prisoner exchange between Israel and the radical Palestinian Hamas movement are to continue in the coming weeks, the head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Mahmoud al- Sahar, told Israeli radio Sunday.

On Friday, Israel released 20 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for a video showing captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, 23, alive. The 2.42-minute video is the first to be released since his capture some three years ago.

Al-Sahar told Israeli radio that a new round of negotiations under German mediation would centre around among others matters, that of 125 prisoners, whose release Israel has thus far rejected. They are among the 450 prisoners Hamas wants Israel to release.

Hamas hoped for an agreement within weeks, he said.

In the interview with Der Spiegel, released Saturday, al-Sahar was quoted as saying he expected Shalit's release within a matter of weeks, "a couple of months at most."

Israeli government officials have been less optimistic, saying they expect negotiations would be tough and drawn out.

Shalit, a dual French-Israeli national was captured by Hamas-led Palestinian militants in a cross border raid launched from the Gaza Strip on June 25, 2006.  dpa