A Hamas official warned yesterday that the ongoing Israeli offensive in northern Gaza Strip could endanger the life of an Israeli soldier held by Palestinian militant groups.

However, Salah al-Bardawil, the spokesman of Hamas lawmakers, said that Hamas was very keen to keep the soldier alive and understood his life "has significance for Palestinian prisoners and people."

Hamas and two allied groups kidnapped Israeli soldier, Corporal Gilad Shalit, in a cross-boarder raid in June and demand release of Palestinian prisoners for exchange.

He said that the Israeli army launched the offensive in northern Gaza Strip in a bid to force the Palestinians to soften their demands as talks on prisoners-swap continue under Egyptian mediation.

"Israel would be happy if the soldier was killed, because this will decrease demands outlined by Palestinian resistance movements," he said.

Regarding inter-Palestinian talks aimed at forming a new government, al-Bardawil called for a national unity government based on the Prisoners Document of National Accordance.

The document, which calls for a two-state solution, also guarantees Hamas to participate in the government.

"Running behind conditions of the U.S. administration and the British government will draw the Palestinians into a dark tunnel," al-Bardawil said.