Anti-extremism experts from the Department of Education have contacted a school due to host an event organised by a charity linked to Hamas.

Human Appeal International will hold a women-only social evening at Parrs Wood High School, a specialist technology college in Didsbury, south Manchester, on February 18.

The agreement between Fatah and Hamas for a Palestinian unity government, to be headed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, almost certainly signals the end of the short-lived attempt to re-launch Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

Senior Israeli analysts are convinced that some Hamas leaders genuinely want the terror group to become a legitimate political force.

Hamas has been under pressure in recent weeks from Turkey and the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt to renounce violence, and there are clear signs that a new direction is being considered.

One Israeli expert on Hamas said this week: "There is a true change of direc

Reports of a shift of policy by Hamas to non-violent resistance against Israel appear premature at best.

In a Friday interview with the Euronews network, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas claimed to have reached an agreement with Hamas that, from now on, the Palestinian struggle against Israel would "be population-based and not with weapons".

Five hundred and fifty Palestinian prisoners will walk free on Sunday in the second stage of the deal that was struck to secure the release of Gilad Shalit.

Two months after the soldier returned home after more than five years as a captive of Hamas, Israel will again pay the heavy price accepted for his freedom.

A list of names of those who would be freed was published earlier this week.

Hamas cannot see a top without verbally going over it.

Even by the standards of their usual outbursts, they've excelled over the closure of a wooden ramp leading from the Western Wall to the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif.

Spokesman Fawzi Barhum said this was a "violent act… a declaration of religious war on the Muslim holy places… a serious step that shows the Zionist scheme of aggression

The prospect of a unity deal between Hamas and Fatah have been further undermined after a high-level Hamas official accused President Mahmoud Abbas of being disinterested in striking one.

Mahmoud Zahar, a leading spokesman for Hamas, said the Palestinian leader was "not interested in achieving" a deal.

The Palestinian president is to meet the Hamas leader today in Cairo to discuss the future of co-operation between the two rival groups.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will continue to withhold more than £63 million in Palestinian Authority tax money because of the latest attempts to establish a unity agreement between Fatah and Hamas.

The Israeli Prime Minister has confirmed that a deal is underway to bring home the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

According to Mr Netanyahu's official Twitter feed, the 25-year-old will be coming home within days.

"We have concluded arduous negotiations with Hamas to release Gilad Shalit. He will be coming home in the next few days," said a message posted on Twitter.

Gilad Shalit could be freed as early as next month after more than five years in captivity if a reported prisoner swap goes ahead.

According to the Al-Arabiya television network Israel and Hamas have agreed on a deal, to take place in November.