**Israel is due to release a group of female Palestinian prisoners in exchange for a video of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.**The video has not been made public but Israeli media say the recording was made recently and shows Mr Shalit in civilian clothes, apparently unharmed.
The 23-year-old was captured by Hamas militants in a raid three years ago.
Analysts say the exchange is a major breakthrough in nearly three years of Egyptian-brokered talks.
German mediators joined the talks, between Hamas and Israel, in July.
The female Palestinian prisoners are described as low-profile detainees, most of whom were coming to the end of their sentences.
The first was released on Wednesday and 19 more are to be freed on Friday.
Video ‘genuine’
Although the tape has not yet been handed over to Israeli officials, its contents have been widely reported in the Israeli media.
It is thought that the tape was sent to Egypt with a Hamas delegation.
One Israeli official told Reuters that a German mediator had already seen the video and believed it showed recent images of Gilad Shalit, who is being held in Gaza.
Abu Mujahed, a spokesman for one of the Hamas groups involved in Mr Shalit’s capture, said the minute-long video showed him “alive and moving”, the agency reported.
It would be the first such footage showing the soldier in captivity. An audiotape and three letters have been released since his capture in 2006, the most recent dated in 2008.
Hamas has never allowed the International Committee of the Red Cross access to verify Mr Shalit’s wellbeing.
The militant group, which controls Gaza, is demanding the release at least 1,000 Palestinian prisoners to ensure the soldier’s safe return home.
Israeli President Shimon Peres has warned that securing his freedom will be a long and difficult task.