Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Sunday sent two envoys to Hamas's exiled political leader and Syrian authorities to discuss the capture of an Israeli soldier and the crisis in the Gaza Strip, an official said.
Abbas instructed members of the Palestine Liberation Organisation executive committee, Taysir Khalid and Abdullah Horani, to meet Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, the Syrian leadership and Palestinian factions in Damascus, the source said.
Talks will focus on the seizure of an Israeli soldier by three Palestinian militant groups, including the armed wing of Hamas, the Palestinian governing movement, in an attack on an Israeli army outpost June 25.
Khalid and Horani are expected to leave on Monday, the source said.
Israel has repeatedly accused arch-foe Damascus of supporting Palestinian militants who are behind 19-year-old Gilad Shalit's capture and have threatened to kill Hamas leaders based in Damascus.