Israel Says Iran Paid to Halt Deal on Captive

Israel accused the Iranian government of paying $50 million to block a deal that would have freed an Israeli soldier captured by Hamas-linked militants who crossed from the Gaza Strip into Israel in June. Hamas and Iran called the accusation untrue.

Dan Gillerman, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, refused to divulge the basis of the allegation or provide details.

According to a report in the Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot, Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, who lives in exile in Damascus, Syria, accepted the money and ratcheted up his demands for the soldier's release, deadlocking the negotiations.