“Israel” refuses to free under-age & infant Palestinian prisoners in return for the tank-gunner captured in action

Source: AP, 04-7-2006
Palestinian militants holding an "Israeli" soldier said Tuesday they would not release any information about the serviceman`s condition after "Israel" ignored a deadline to begin releasing Palestinian prisoners.
But as diplomatic efforts continued, the militants said they would not kill the soldier.
Switzerland offered forceful criticism, accusing "Israel" of violating international law in its Gaza offensive by inflicting heavy destruction and endangering civilians in acts of collective punishment banned under the Geneva Conventions.
Many Palestinians say they do not wish Shalit to be harmed, but they back the demand to free some of the 9,000 underage Palestinian prisoners, including infants, held by "Israel".
"I think they should release the women and children and (for militants to) release the soldier. But without anything in return, they`ll kill him," said Saked Abu Kosh, a 30-year-old pharmacist in the southern town of Rafah.
The militants implied Monday that they would kill tank-gunner Cpl. Gilad Shalit, captured in combat if their demands weren`t met. "Israel", however, rejected the ultimatum and insisted it would not negotiate with the militants.
After a 6 a.m. (11 p.m. EDT) deadline passed, a spokesman for the shadowy Army of Islam said the groups holding Shalit "have decided to freeze all contacts and close the files of this soldier."
"We will not give any information that will give the occupation good news or reassurance," said the spokesman, Abu Muthana. But, he added, "We will not kill the soldier, if he is still alive."
The previously unknown Army of Islam was among three groups that took part in the June 25 cross-border raid that killed two "Israeli" soldiers and abducted Shalit, 19. Two other groups, the military wing of the ruling Hamas party and the Hamas-linked Popular Resistance Committees, also claimed responsibility.
Since the abduction, the militants have called on "Israel" to release hundreds of under age prisoners in exchange for information about Shalit. The abductors have given no concrete information about the soldier`s condition, though "Israeli" officials believe he is alive.
"Israeli" Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has rejected any negotiations with the militants, and last week launched a ground invasion in the Gaza Strip aimed at pressuring the Hamas-led Palestinian government to secure the soldier`s release.
Cabinet minister Roni Bar-On, who is close to Olmert, said there was no change in the "Israeli" position after Tuesday`s deadline passed and threatened harsh action if the soldier is harmed.
Despite the tough public line, "Israeli" officials have privately said they would consider other options to get the soldier back. "Israel" has released prisoners before in exchanges for dead bodies of soldiers killed in battle.
Egypt has been leading international mediation efforts to solve the crisis, including talking to Syria, whose president, Bashar Assad, is believed to hold influence over Hamas` Syria-based political head, Khaled Mashaal. Turkey, a key Muslim ally of "Israel", also has sent an envoy to Syria.
Hamas sent out mixed messages late Monday. In Gaza, government spokesman Ghazi Hamad expressed hope for a diplomatic solution. But Osama Hamdan, one of the most senior members of the exiled Hamas leadership, ruled out a compromise and threatened to abduct more "Israelis".
"If this operation does not lead to the release of prisoners now, let`s postpone talk ... and we will continue resistance. Other ("Israelis") might be taken prisoner," Hamdan, Hamas` representative in Lebanon, told Al Manar television.
In the West Bank city of Ramallah early Tuesday, after surrounding a Palestinian police building, "Israeli" forces arrested three militants claimed to be involved in the abduction and liquidating an "Israeli" settler last week. The military said a fourth was arrested earlier.
Kidnapping the settler added tension to the situation surrounding the capture of the soldier. The Zionist settler's body was found Thursday near Ramallah.
In the hours before the deadline expired, "Israel" kept up its pressure on Hamas with airstrikes.
Early Tuesday, "Israeli" aircraft hit the student council building at the Islamic University in Gaza City, witnesses said, badly damaging it. No one was hurt. The university is a Hamas stronghold. The military claimed it hit a "compound used by terror (resistance) groups."
The military claimed it also hit another Hamas facility in northern Gaza.
In addition, Palestinian residents said several "Israeli" tanks and a bulldozer entered the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun after midnight. The military said they were still outside. "Israel" has been building up troops across from northern Gaza, preparing for an invasion.
A Hamas militant was killed and four wounded in an "Israeli" airstrike in Beit Hanoun just after midnight, Palestinians said. "Israel" said its air force targeted Palestinians planting a bomb near soldiers` positions.