Israel's outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Tuesday night that Hamas's current demands in a possible prisoner swap are impossible for his country to meet.

Israel will not give in to Hamas and Israel's current offer to free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in return for kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit is final, he said in an address that seemingly dashed the hope of a swap deal on his watch.

Following is a brief chronicle of major developments between Israel and Hamas concerning a possible prisoner swap deal:

March 17, 2009: Following a special cabinet briefing on the latest developments in the indirect talks with Hamas, Olmert said that Hamas' conditions were unacceptable and Israel's offer was final.

March 14, 2009: Olmert sent two senior officials to Cairo for talks with Egyptian mediators on the subject, which Olmert said was the last chance for an agreement before he leaves office.

February 18, 2009: Israel's security cabinet decided not to reach any long-term truce deal with Hamas before Shalit is released.

February 15, 2009: Olmert said that until Shalit's release, Israel would not open the border crossings with Gaza, which was devastated by Israel's massive punishing operation in December and January.

June 19, 2008: Israel and Hamas agreed to a six-month truce deal in Gaza, which required both sides to intensify talks for the release of Shalit.

February 3, 2008: Olmert relaxed criteria for prisoners to be released in return for Shalit.

June 25, 2007: Hamas released the first audio message purportedly from Shalit, in which Shalit said his condition was deteriorating and Israel should meet Hamas's demands for his release.

June 30, 2006: Shalit's captors demanded the release of 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit's return.

June 25, 2006: 19-year-old Shalit was abducted in a cross-border attack by Hamas-allied Palestinian militants.

(Xinhua News Agency March 18, 2009)