Israel to Hamas: Release Soldier or No Truce
Israel has flatly denied statements by Hamas that a deal on a long-term Gaza cease-fire is imminent. The Prime Minister’s Office said Israel would not accept a truce that did not include the release of captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, held by Hamas for more than two years in Gaza.
For Hamas, the key to the Egyptian-mediated deal is Israel lifting its crippling blockade on Gaza.
The blockade is putting great pressure on Hamas. Their control over the people of Palestine depends on their being able to pay wages and maintain a semblance of an acceptable living standard, and the blockade has created the exact opposite situation.
The Israeli statement said border crossings would not be opened as long as Corporal Gilad Shalit remains in captivity. But Hamas official Mohammed Nasser said Shalit and the cease-fire are two separate issues.
He said Shalit would be freed at a later stage, if Israel agrees to Hamas’s demand to release about 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Exactly. It’s my bet that Gilad Shalit was tortured to death long ago, and this would be just one more tragic farce where hundreds, or in this case up to a thousand terrorists would be released in exchange for a box of bones, just as they’ve done before. It’s past time that Israel refused to be sucked in to another of these insane trades.
By refusing to accept Hamas “separate issue” terms and demanding Shalit’s release as a condition of any truce, Israel is forcing Hamas to step out into the light of day, and when it becomes clear that they won’t release Shalit because they can’t, as he’s dead, the wrath of the Israeli people may be enough to finally bring the political unity they need to finish off Hamas for good.
Hamas has proven itself to be a terrorist organization to the people of Palestine by committing horrible acts on the people it supposedly protects, shooting them in the legs and knees, torturing and beheading anyone even suspected of being on the side of their rival party, Fatah, or Israel, and have created an atmosphere of fear and revulsion among the Palestinians. They’re now ruling by fear and intimidation, a clear proof that they’ve lost all the popularity they once enjoyed.
Outgoing Israeli PM Olmert is reading the situation well. Demanding Shalits release before lifting any blockades that would allow Hamas to oversee reconstruction and the restoration of trade after the latest and very devastating war is going to see results, whatever they turn out to be.
I tend to agree, any agreement with Hamas is worthless anyway and the Israelis have nothing to lose. Even if Hamas did stop firing the rockets (unlikely) the pause would only be used to rearm.
Are you serious?!!!
I am from Australia, a country with large Palestinian and Israeli populations. I have friends in both groups.
I was in Egypt and Jordan from late December to mid January 09 and I was disgusted with Israel’s murderous invasion of Palestine.
Your government sealed off the borders of this poverty stricken state, sealing them in and aid out. Whilst you build your over-indulgent mansions on their land and deny them even drinking water, they live in squalor.
If I was a Palestinian, I too would take up arms to save my family from destitution – honestly – wouldn’t you?
Hiding behind the line that Israel is targeting Hamas is pathetic. You say that they are using the population as human shields, well does that mean that you are free to gun them down?
Wasn’t the leader of Hamas not even in Palestine when you launched your indiscriminate unmanned probe attacks, killing children and countless others?
It is actions like how your country has cut them off from the basic necessities of life and watched them struggle while you prosper that allow extremist groups like Hamas to take power. These people are desperate that’s why they are turning to radicals for leaders.
If Israel thinks that it is doing a morally just thing here it is so wrong and they are the ones ruling by fear – not their own people, but the helpless Palestinian people who live everyday in terror.
I hope that Israel will be made accountable for their horrific war crimes. Countries that are so obviously over-powered and that do what they like in spite of the UN’s protests should expect a backlash and a big one at that.
I think that maybe you should take a look at the big picture, not the propaganda that your government is selling to you.
Yes, Linda, totally serious. The real question here is, Are you? Either that, or, are you living with someone named Mohammad or Rashid? You come off as another terrorist pervert.
“Your government sealed off the borders…” Whose government? I’m in the USA. You really are confused, aren’t you.
“You say” I say? Excuse me? It’s all over the world media. THEY say!” “that they are using the population as human shields, well does that mean that you are free to gun them down?”
Yes. It does. In war, when cities are bombed, as they always are, lots of civilians die. Hello? It’s war, hello? Did I miss something here? Have residents of the Gaza Strip become special? Wake up, Linda. Hamas is EVIL!
A lot of this “propaganda” has come to me from aljazeera.com.
“It is actions like how your country has…” My country? I’m not an Israeli or even Jewish. Get a grip on the facts, will you?
Israel hasn’t committed war crimes. That’s crap and it’s even recognized by the scum running the UN as being crap. The Islamists are the criminals and you know it.
You’re a muslim. Not just another space-cadet left winger but a muslim. Go spread your lies on some other blog. Go post on Al Jazeera. They love hearing from people like you.
I, too, figure that Gilad Shalit is long gone from this world.
Of course, the Pseudostinians will continue to try to play the victim in this truce bargaining.
Not that any real truce with Hamas is ever possible — merely a hudna, for the purposes of regrouping.
black sheep,
I in fact am not a muslim, jewish, christian or of any religious faith. I believe in people and their actions. Although your attemp to insult me by calling me a muslim makes me laugh. If you knew anything about muslim culture you would see that their religion is surprisingly similar to christianity and most other faiths. It is the small handful of extremists that belong to terrorist cells that are the threat, not muslims in general.
I don’t like Hamas, if you’d read my message correctly, I was stating that this type of aggressive action that Israel has taken, drives desperate people into the arms of extremist groups like Hamas because they falsly offer them safety.
Just as the people of Cambodia ran into the arms of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge after the Americans bombed their country without cause.
If you think that killing innocent people and children is not a war crime – that’s your ignorant opinion….You’re entitled to it and I’m entitled to mine.
Oh? You’re entitled to your opinion ON MY BLOG? No, actually, you’re not. It only appears here if I allow it. You lefties always act like you have Special Entitlement. You don’t.
Cambodia? Linda, go check your facts. Do a Wikipedia on Pol Pot, it was the communist Vietnamese who engaged in the political and military interference that brought Pol Pot to power. America had nothing to do with it. Look it up.
DELIBERATELY killing innocent civilians, DELIBERATELY targeting them, is a war crime. Yes it is. The Israelis did not deliberately target them. They were used as human shields by the Islamists AND THAT IS a war crime.
If combatants attack from the middle of a crowd of civilians, those being attacked have a right to attack back. Rules of war. Look it up.
See? You don’t have any facts, all you have are opinions, which are skewed by prejudice and ignorance. Then you run around the ‘Net posting your erroneous opinions on various blogs like mine.
Finally…. if YOU knew about muslim culture you wouldn’t like them. In no way are they like Christianity or any other religion. Again, look it up.
Why do I get the feeling that I would be complimenting you by asking if you’re a teenager yet? You’re so opinionated and yet so ignorant. You don’t sound adult at all.
I spent a month in cambodia and i am quite aware of the facts. Try reading a book called the pol pot regieme or do some looking into henry kissinger’s role in the war. screw your predjudiced blog. If you think that hate mongering and dividing and labelling people is the way to go than i pity you. Try having a balanced view and maybe look at the other side.
also wikipedia is hardly a recognised factual site. no wonder you haven’t a clue
Oh you must be right. Everyone else must be wrong. How could I not have seen that? Thank you for your completely balanced and unprejudiced views.
Sounds like I hit on the truth, doesn’t it? You have no facts to offer, only hostility. See ya, kid.