The Damascus-based Hamas leadership has agreed on principal to release kidnapped IDF soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit in exchange for 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, according to a report that will be published in the Arab-Israeli newspaper A-Sinara on Friday in Nazareth. The report, which was based on senior Arab and Palestinian sources, said Hamas would be willing to free Shalit, recognize Israel, and acknowledge previous agreements, on the condition that Israel agree to allow Hamas leaders from Damascus to come to the Gaza Strip, and release some 1,000 Palestinian security prisoners. Israeli sources had yet to confirm the report.