The Gaza crossings will not be re-opened for normal traffic until kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit is returned to his home and family, according to an Israeli government spokesman.
Regardless of media claims by Hamas terrorists on an Egyptian-brokered truce agreement, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's spokesman Mark Regev said Friday morning that no deal has been finalized. "You know we don't comment on every thing that Hamas says," Regev said.
Egypt's official news agency MENA reported Thursday that Hamas second-in-command Moussa Abu Marzuk issued a statement saying the group had agreed to an 18-month ceasefire with Israel, but that a deal for Shalit's release was not included.
According to the report, which claimed the truce would be announced by Saturday or Sunday, once Hamas had "consulted" with allied terror groups, the Egyptian-brokered deal focused on reopening the crossings as well as an end to rocket fire and arms smuggling.
"If Hamas ceases all aggressive action against Israel, including arms smuggling, Israel is ready for total and complete quiet," Regev said. However, he said, that did not mean Israel had closed on a deal. Nor did the statement address the issue of whether the kidnapped soldier, languishing in terrorist captivity since June 25, 2006, would be included in a truce agreement.
"Gilad Shalit is a different issue," said Regev, noting that the Hamas terrorist regime in Gaza has focused much of its efforts in the negotiations on opening the crossings.
"Hamas knows well that we can't have anything close to normal functioning of the crossings as long as Gilad Shalit remains hostage," Regev confirmed to Israel National News. At present, all of the crossings are open daily for import of humanitarian aid, to faciliate Gaza residents' access to medical care in Israel and Egypt and for movement of non-governmental agency workers and diplomats in and out of the region.
Shalit's father Noam met with Quartet Middle East envoy Tony Blair Thursday in Jerusalem, asking the former British prime minister to pressure the Hamas regime that rules Gaza to release his son. "We believe the Quartet has the means and channels -- be they direct or indirect -- to pressure Hamas," the elder Shalit told reporters, adding that Blair had said he would work towards freeing the young soldier.