GAZA, July 7 (Xinhua) -- The Ezz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, the Hamas armed wing, on Monday started to collect information about Palestinians serving long sentences in Israeli jails, but it was unclear if the move is linked to negotiations on a prisoner swap deal with Israel.

    On its website, the Ezz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades called on the Palestinians to fill the form with information about the prisoners who spend many years in Israeli jails.

    The form requires information about the prisoners' name, sentence, health condition, the prison and the political affiliation of the detainees.

    Hamas has held an Israeli soldier hostage since June 2006 and demands to swap him for a number of Palestinian prisoners. Hamas has already handed out the names of the prisoners it wants to be freed to Israel through Egyptian mediators.

    Last month, Egypt brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. But Hamas last week said it was suspending indirect talks with Israel over the prisoner swap deal involving the captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, citing Israeli violations of a declared truce in Gaza.