Posted on 07/07/2006 6:26:36 PM PDT by familyop
Hamas has rejected suggestions from an Israeli cabinet minister that some Palestinian prisoners could be freed as a "goodwill gesture" if militants released a captured soldier and stopped rocket firing.
"Our people have no faith in goodwill gestures," Hamas law-maker Mushir al-Masri told Reuters.
"There is no talk at the moment about the missing soldier, we are talking about 30 Palestinian martyrs and 100 wounded in an Israeli military aggression against our people."
Hamas has said for the first time that Corporal Gilad Shalit was alive, and demanded negotiations for his release.
Israel has refused to negotiate with Hamas. More deaths
Israel launched an offensive 10 days ago to try to recover captured Corporal Shalit and end cross-border rocket attacks.
At least 36 Palestinians, the majority militants, and one Israeli soldier have been killed since then.
The EU accused Israel of "disproportionate use of force", a day after 20 Palestinians and one soldier were killed in the bloodiest day of fighting since 2004.
"The EU condemns the loss of lives caused by disproportionate use of force," a statement by the Finnish EU presidency said.
The army has pushed deep into northern Gaza, taking over ruined Jewish settlements that Israel abandoned last year, in an offensive to bring home Corporal Shalit and end rocket attacks.
The incursion has piled pressure on the Hamas government, already reeling from a Western aid embargo. Any lingering hope peace talks could be revived has been dashed by the bloodshed.
Among Friday's violence in which medics said militants and civilians were killed, an air strike in northern Gaza killed two gunmen. The army said it had targeted armed men.
Witnesses said tank fire killed one man near the northern town of Beit Lahiya, scene of the worst fighting on Thursday.
In a statement, Hamas said it was not asking Israel "for the impossible" over the 19-year-old tank gunner. Hamas, whose armed wing took part in Corporal Shalit's abduction, has demanded Israel free 1,000 prisoners in exchange for his release.
"His treatment is being done well and in a humanitarian way in accordance with the orders of our religion," the group said.
"We stress that negotiations are the only way out of this case and the sole way to preserve the life of the soldier and secure his safe return to his family."
-Reuters
"Our people have no faith in goodwill gestures,"
Perhaps that is why they will always be outcasts.
Clearly not, since they always respond to them with more atrocities and mayhem.
"Our people have no faith in goodwill gestures,"
Allah forbid that they do something to end the violence.
Allah forbid that they do something to end the violence.
The only end to Islamic violence will come when there are
no infidels,....... or no muslims.
(The Palestinian terrorist regime is the crisis and Israel's fist is the answer.)
Perhaps the quote should read "Our people have no concept of goodwill."
Lie, and everything else: rape, robbery, throat-cutting, the works. Just read the Quran for the complete list.
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