Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal said Wednesday that Israel's ceasefire terms were “unacceptable.” Speaking from Damascus, Mashaal rejected a suggested secure zone within Gaza.
Mashaal also rejected Israel's offer to open its crossings with Gaza in exchange for the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. Shalit will only be freed if Israel frees terrorist prisoners, Mashaal said. Hamas has demanded the release of over 1,000 terrorists in exchange for Shalit.
Another senior Hamas member, Salah al-Bardawil, said Hamas was negotiating from a position of strength. Israel did not win the latest round of fighting in Gaza, he said, explaining, “They did not detract from the motivation of the resistance.”
Israel needs a truce more than Hamas does, al-Bardawil continued. However, Hamas is flexible when it comes to striking a deal, he said. The group is expected to publicize its demands in the near future.
Aviva Shalit: You Promised to Bring Him Back
Aviva Shalit, Gilad's mother, gave a rare public address in Tel Aviv on Wednesday night. “Bring me back my son,” she pleaded.
"Gilad fell captive 948 days ago. In that time there have been two wars, a hudna, Kassams and Grads and mortar shells, changes in the government echelons, in the IDF command, and G-d knows what else. Only one thing did not change: my son Gilad is still rotting in a Hamas cell,” she said.
Addressing the government's leaders, Aviva Shalit cried, “You promised us you'd bring him back.” She held the IDF responsible as well, referring to “the unwritten covenant between the IDF and mothers that was carved in stone: we give our sons and daughters, and the state gives them back when their service is over... In my private case, I feel that covenant slipping from my fingers.”
The speech ended with an impassioned appeal to Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. “Please! Don't leave this task to those who follow you... This is a last-minute appeal, before you leave the government – or hope for reelection – fulfill your promise. I want to hug Gilad, before I go to vote.”