GAZA (Reuters) - The spiritual leader of Hamas threatened Friday that the Palestinian militant group would kidnap Israeli soldiers in an attempt to exchange them for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Sheikh Ahmed Yassin told reporters in Gaza City there was "no solution for the issue of (Palestinian) prisoners except by capturing soldiers of the enemy and exchanging them for ours."

His comment followed a landmark exchange between Israel and the Lebanese guerrilla group Hizbollah Thursday that brought freedom for hundreds of jailed Arabs, mostly Palestinians, in return for a kidnapped Israeli and three dead soldiers.

Hizbollah threatened more abductions if Israel did not release a last Lebanese prisoner, but the Jewish state vowed to deal harshly with any future kidnappers.

The army has long recognized the threat of Hamas abductions. In 1994, Hamas kidnapped a soldier, who was then killed during a rescue attempt in the West Bank. Soldiers are under standing orders not to hitchhike to avoid being taken hostage.

"I confirm that Palestinian factions have not spared any effort to reach Israeli soldiers and they have carried out several attempts," Yassin said. "Israeli soldiers nowadays are as cautious as birds who fear being trapped."

Hamas, sworn to Israel's destruction, is the main group behind a campaign of suicide bombings against Israelis.