The Hamas terrorist organization responded angrily late Wednesday afternoon to Israel's decision that the fate of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit would be placed before any agreement on a ceasefire in Gaza.
Hamas, together with the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) terrorist organization, said its conditions for Shalit's release remained non-negotiable and linked to the release of Palestinian Authority terrorists held in Israeli jails.
Shalit, who was kidnapped in a cross-border raid on an IDF outpost near the Kerem Shalom Crossing by three Hamas-linked terror groups, has been in captivity since June 25, 2006.
PRC spokesman Abu Mujahed told reporters that "Gilad Shalit will be released only if the price demanded by Palestinian groups is met."
Gaza-based Hamas spokesman Ismail Radwan said the cabinet's decision was an attempt to "torpedo the ceasefire" by making "last-minute demands" and called it a "knife in Egypt's back."
Radwan added that the group expects Israel to increase its military activities in the coming days. "We won't stand around doing nothing in the face of Israeli aggression," he said.
Cabinet Decides No Ceasefire Without Shalit
The unanimous decision reached by the Security Cabinet earlier in the day stated that "The release of abducted soldier Gilad Shalit is – and will continue to be – Israel's top priority."
Israel will allow partial activities at the crossings from its territory into the Gaza Strip, continued the cabinet communiqué, but added, "Expanded activity at the crossings will be discussed upon the release of Gilad Shalit."
Although the IDF will not initiate military action against Hamas, the cabinet was clear that attacks emanating from Gaza would not be tolerated as they were during the previous "lull" that ran from June to November 2008.
"Israel will respond quickly, strongly and continuously to the continuation of terrorist actions against it from the Gaza Strip, including rocket fire, the smuggling of weapons and ammunition, and the strengthening of the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip. In this context, Israel views Hamas as being solely responsible for everything that occurs in the Gaza Strip and will exact a high price from it for the continuation of terrorist actions, including the smuggling issue," it said.
The Security Cabinet also instructed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak to order the IDF and the security services "to prepare to respond accordingly."