A spokesman for Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in Gaza invited France Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner on Sunday to visit the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

Kouchner, who is visiting in Israel, had earlier said that France is willing to mediate between Israel and Hamas to release captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and stop firing rockets at Israel "if France is asked to."

Ayman Taha, Hamas spokesman in Gaza welcomed Kouchner statements, and said "Hamas invites Mr. Kouchner to visit in the Gaza Strip to prove that his statements are serious."

Hamas has taken control of the Gaza Strip in mid June last year, after it defeated the militias of Fatah movement of President Mahmoud Abbas as well as his security forces.

Hamas armed wing and two minor armed groups had abducted Shalit in late June, 2006. Hamas who leads the case wants around 1,000 prisoners to be set free from Israeli jails for freeing the Israeli soldier.

Earlier, Kouchner had expressed his country's readiness to mediate between Hamas and Israel to free Shalit, who hold the French nationality in addition to his Israeli one.

No official word has come from Kouchner following Hamas invitation to him to visit in the Gaza Strip.