Wednesday February 18, 2009

The Israeli government announced that Israel would not open its border crossings with the Gaza Strip and rejected a long-term ceasefire deal in the costal region, until Palestinian factions release the captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit.

The decision was made during a security cabinet meeting for the outgoing Isreali Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, on Wednesday midday. Meir Sheetrit, Israel's Interior Minister, told the Israeli radio that, "it would be inconceivable" for Israel to accept the proposed ceasefire by Egypt calling for reopening border crossings without the release of Shalit.

The Egyptian ceasefire deal, which was proposed after the 22-day long Israeli offensive on Gaza last month, offers a full halt of military attacks by Israel, the halt of homemade shell-fire from Gaza by Palestinian resistance groups, and the total re-opening of the border crossings around Gaza, which are controlled by Israel.

Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since June of 2007, has demanded the release of 1,400 Palestinian political detainees held by Israel in exchange for Shalit.

Hamas has stated that Shalit’s case must be considered separately, and that any ceasefire agreement should be based on the reopening of each of Gaza's border crossings, closed by Israel since June of 2007.

Other Gaza-based resistance factions voiced the same opinion, calling for continuing homemade rocket-fire into nearby Israeli areas, until the crossings are reopened. Abu Mojahed, spokesperson of the Popular Resistance Committees, one of the groups that hold Corporal Shalit, told IMEMC earlier this month.

"There are three main demands: reopening the crossings completely, ending the attacks on our people and lifting the blockade totally, otherwise, there can never any talk about Tahdiya (truce). The Shalit profile is totally separate and is linked to the Israeli release of 1400 Palestinian prisoners. Therefore we cannot accept any extortion, at any rate" Abu Mojahed said.

Shalit was captured by the Palestinian resistance during an attack on a military post he served in, located near the Gaza borders with Israeli in June of 2006.

Both Israel and Hamas announced a unilateral ceasefire on February 18th, following 22 days of air, sea, and land bombardment on the Palestinians coastal region, home to 1.5 million Palestinians. The Israeli offensive left at least 1,400 Palestinians killed, and more than 5,500 injured.