Earlier, Justice Minister Chaim Ramon had announced that Israel would not negotiate, and that "the heavens would fall" on the terrorists if they harmed Shalit in any way.
The terrorist announcement of today added that it has always been Islamic tradition to treat captives with respect. However, no evidence has ever been received, since Gilad's capture nine days ago, that he is even alive.
Shalit was captured by a group of eight Palestinian Hamas terrorists who tunneled underground from Gaza into Israel, murdered two tank crewmembers, wounded a third, and took Shalit captive.
Israel has intensified its offensive in northern Gaza, penetrating up to a kilometer deep into the territory. In addition, the IDF has begun tunnel-seeking and other operations in the Erez area of northern Gaza. Among the offensive's air targets this past night was the Islamic University in Gaza City, which was bombed for the second time in the course of the past week. No one was reported hurt.
Four Kassam rockets were fired into Israel since this morning - one near Yad Mordechai, two near Nachal Oz, and a fourth towards Sderot - causing no damage or casualties. Another Kassam was fired last night, causing a large fire near Kibbutz Be'eri, and another landed yesterday between Carmiya and Yad Mordechai.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made a quick and furtive visit to Sderot early this morning, meeting with Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal. Many residents were angered that the visit to which they had looked forward for so long was carried out so secretly, without giving them a chance to speak with him. He later explained that he was not able to inform Sderot officials of his visit in advance because of security considerations
The three terrorist groups that issued yesterday's kidnapping ultimatum - the Hamas-affiliated Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), Islamic Army, and Izaddin El-Kassam Brigades of Hamas - demand the release of over 1,000 terrorist prisoners held by Israel. Prime Minister Olmert, Defense Minister Amir Peretz and other officials have repeatedly rejected, over the past week, any form of negotiations with terrorists. Olmert stated that Israel would not capitulate to blackmail and extortion.
A group of 100 Shaalvim Yeshiva high school students, from Kibbutz Shaalvim near Modiin, visited Gilad Shalit’s house in the Galilee this afternoon, to pray for his safe return home.
During a visit to the Shalit family home on Monday, IDF Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Dan Halutz was asked by the soldier’s father, Noam Shalit, to "please protect the interests of [my] son” and “bring him home safe and sound." The Shalit family has not taken an overly aggressive approach, appearing before the media only intermittently to plead their case. However, Noam Shalit has asked that Israel not attempt to restore Israel's deterrence power "on my son's back."
A lively debate has been ongoing over Israeli media and elsewhere as to whether Israel should give in to the terrorist kidnappers' demands. Some feel that Israel has often released terrorists in exchange for hostages, most recently in the case of Elchanan Tenenbaum, and that Gilad Shalit should not be treated differently. Most say, however, that giving in to the demands and releasing terrorists at this point would encourage further kidnappings and would endanger many more Israeli citizens.
The terrorist announcement of today added that it has always been Islamic tradition to treat captives with respect. However, no evidence has ever been received, since Gilad's capture nine days ago, that he is even alive.
Shalit was captured by a group of eight Palestinian Hamas terrorists who tunneled underground from Gaza into Israel, murdered two tank crewmembers, wounded a third, and took Shalit captive.
Israel has intensified its offensive in northern Gaza, penetrating up to a kilometer deep into the territory. In addition, the IDF has begun tunnel-seeking and other operations in the Erez area of northern Gaza. Among the offensive's air targets this past night was the Islamic University in Gaza City, which was bombed for the second time in the course of the past week. No one was reported hurt.
Four Kassam rockets were fired into Israel since this morning - one near Yad Mordechai, two near Nachal Oz, and a fourth towards Sderot - causing no damage or casualties. Another Kassam was fired last night, causing a large fire near Kibbutz Be'eri, and another landed yesterday between Carmiya and Yad Mordechai.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made a quick and furtive visit to Sderot early this morning, meeting with Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal. Many residents were angered that the visit to which they had looked forward for so long was carried out so secretly, without giving them a chance to speak with him. He later explained that he was not able to inform Sderot officials of his visit in advance because of security considerations
The three terrorist groups that issued yesterday's kidnapping ultimatum - the Hamas-affiliated Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), Islamic Army, and Izaddin El-Kassam Brigades of Hamas - demand the release of over 1,000 terrorist prisoners held by Israel. Prime Minister Olmert, Defense Minister Amir Peretz and other officials have repeatedly rejected, over the past week, any form of negotiations with terrorists. Olmert stated that Israel would not capitulate to blackmail and extortion.
A group of 100 Shaalvim Yeshiva high school students, from Kibbutz Shaalvim near Modiin, visited Gilad Shalit’s house in the Galilee this afternoon, to pray for his safe return home.
During a visit to the Shalit family home on Monday, IDF Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Dan Halutz was asked by the soldier’s father, Noam Shalit, to "please protect the interests of [my] son” and “bring him home safe and sound." The Shalit family has not taken an overly aggressive approach, appearing before the media only intermittently to plead their case. However, Noam Shalit has asked that Israel not attempt to restore Israel's deterrence power "on my son's back."
A lively debate has been ongoing over Israeli media and elsewhere as to whether Israel should give in to the terrorist kidnappers' demands. Some feel that Israel has often released terrorists in exchange for hostages, most recently in the case of Elchanan Tenenbaum, and that Gilad Shalit should not be treated differently. Most say, however, that giving in to the demands and releasing terrorists at this point would encourage further kidnappings and would endanger many more Israeli citizens.