Two Hamas leaders returned to the Gaza Strip Thursday after holding talks with their exiled leadership in Syria on prisoners exchange with Israel.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said Mahmoud Zahar, a member of Hamas' politburo, and a Gaza-based leader Khalil al-Hayya, participated in Hamas' leadership talks to respond to an Israeli offer delivered last week by a German mediator "The talks are still going on to respond to the Israeli proposal, " he added.

The two sides are intensifying the talks on the prisoners swap, which requires Hamas to release the captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for a number of Palestinian and Arab prisoners.

Abu Zuhri said "Hamas did not close the door before the swap and will declare its final decision officially in the coming phase. "

Earlier, Hamas denied reports that its politburo rejected the Israeli offer since Israel wanted to expel many of the prisoners outside the Palestinian territories.

(Xinhua News Agency January 1, 2010)