Recent calls by Hamas leader Esmail Haniya to bring an amicable end to the continuing captivity of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit were ignored by the Israeli government. Instead, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) invaded an area east of Gaza in a futile attempt to find and release Shalit from confinement. In so doing, the IDF succeeded in killing at least 11 Palestinians and injuring many more, including seriously wounding a journalist, who later needed amputation of both legs.
Haniya's offer to Israel, subsequently so crudely rebuffed, was for the release of Corporal Shalit, captured a year ago, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
The Palestinian leader was looking for an "honourable deal" which would allow neither side to lose face in any barter deal, but would allow for the long overdue release of the thousands of Palestinians, for it is not the first time Israel has agreed to such an "unequal" exchange. Instead, Israel's response came the next day - death and destruction.
2007-07-07
08:12:58
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