Amos Gilad, the head of the military-diplomatic branch of the Defense Ministry, said on Tuesday that Israel will have to open crossings into Hamas-controlled Gaza without getting abducted soldier Gilad Shalit in return. Speaking at the National Defense Institute in Tel Aviv, Gilad said experience has shown the notion of getting Shalit for opening of the crossings is not practical.

Gilad said that despite the deadly attack on an Israeli patrol near Kissufim Tuesday morning, Hamas has no plans to break the cease fire it announced last week. Speaking before news of the return of Israeli ground troops to Gaza, he said that Israel would respond with more than the closing of crossings.