Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday tried to downplay suggestions that Israel is about to make a prisoner-swap deal for a long-held soldier.

While both Palestinian and Israeli officials have recently reported progress to win the release of Israeli Sgt. Gilad Schalit in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, Netanyahu said no deal has been made.

Netanyahu said he doesn't know if a deal will be made.

Schalit has been held for three years in Gaza by militants associated with the Islamic militant group Hamas.

A delegation from Hamas is reported to be in Egypt meeting with a German official to finalize the prisoner swap.