Israel should release all of its female Palestinian prisoners to secure a deal for the hostages held by Hamas, the country’s best-known negotiator has said.

Gershon Baskin, who oversaw the freeing of Gilad Shalit, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldier, called on the government to offer up 34 jailed Palestinian women and 190 teenagers.

Mr Baskin dealt with Hamas in the historic 2011 deal that saw Pte Shalit released in exchange for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners.

More than 200 Israeli and foreign nationals have been abducted by Hamas and other Palestinian Islamic groups and are currently held in the Gaza Strip.

Hopes have risen this week for a deal that would see the hostages freed in exchange for some form of ceasefire.