Israeli security cabinet decided unanimously on Wednesday not to accept a ceasefire in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip before kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit is released.

In doing so, the security cabinet accepted the position of outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said local daily The Jerusalem Post.

The security cabinet also decided after hours of discussion that while Gaza border crossings would continue to facilitate the passage of vital humanitarian supplies for Gaza residents, any further opening of the crossings will be dependent on the release of Shalit.

He has been in Palestinian captivity since he was abducted in across-border raid by Hamas-allied militants in June 2006.

Meanwhile, local daily Ha'aretz quoted Israeli Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit as saying that "it would be inconceivable" for Israel to accept an Egyptian-proposed ceasefire calling for reopening Gaza border crossings to more-than-limited humanitarian aid without Shalit's release.

The security cabinet decided that Israel would not open its border crossings with Gaza until Hamas agrees to release Shalit, said Sheetrit, who made the remarks shortly after the security cabinet meeting.

The security cabinet met for a special session to discuss a possible prisoner swap with Hamas which could trade hundreds of Palestinian prisoners for Shalit, added Ha'aretz.

According to Mark Regev, Olmert's spokesman, the security cabinet discussed the number of Palestinian prisoners Israel would be willing to swap for Shalit, but he declined to disclose any of the figures or names.

"The ministers understand full well the sort of price that releasing Shalit will require and I believe they are supportive," he said, adding that Amos Gilad, an Israeli envoy, was expected to return to Cairo shortly to continue the talks.

On Tuesday, Olmert signaled that the negotiation process was still far from complete, saying it should be concluded in a "short period," but leaving open the possibility that a deal might not be finalized until after he left office.

"One thing is clear, the foundations that we set (for Shalit's release) -- even if they are not completed during my tenure -- will make it possible to return him immediately afterward," said the outgoing premier during a tour of the Western Wall and nearby archaeological sites in Jerusalem.