Jerusalem - Outgoing premier Ehud Olmert on Tuesday said Israel would not give in to demands by the Palestinian Hamas movement in negotiations for a prisoner swap that would see the release of an Israeli soldier.

Addressing a press conference in Jerusalem, Olmert said Israel had made "generous and far-reaching" offers in return for the release of Gilad Shalit who was captured some three years ago.

Israel had wanted to release "hundreds of terrorists, including some who killed Israelis," he said. Hamas had however, demanded more, he said. "There are red lines... We will not cross them."

Olmert ruled out the chances of a deal being reached with the militant Islamist group before his departure. His outgoing cabinet had at an earlier special meeting agreed that Hamas' demands prevented the possibility of a deal, he said. (dpa)