Egyptian diplomats harshly criticized Israel on Thursday over the government's demand that kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit be released prior to a Gaza ceasefire. Hamas insists that a ceasefire deal be reached separately.
Linking Shalit's fate to a truce agreement would “hinder any chances for a ceasefire,” said Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki.
The Egyptian government also subsequently recalled its commerce delegation back to Cairo on Thursday in a step that was seen as a response to Israel's decision. The delegation was to meet with officials from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor for talks on Israeli-Egyptian commercial cooperation.
However, the Egyptian ambassador to Israel later claimed that recall of the commerce delegation was unrelated to anger over the demand for Shalit. The group was called back to Cairo for professional consultations, and will return in the near future, he said.
Earlier in the day outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert insisted that the government's demand to free Shalit would not harm Israel's ties with Egypt, which is mediating negotiations with Hamas. He dismissed warnings that the demand would anger Cairo as “rumors,” saying, “We maintain daily contact with Egypt.”
The cabinet voted unanimously this week to link any agreement on a truce with the Gaza terrorists who kidnapped Shalit to a deal that would include his release, insisting on his return before Israel will agree to stop IDF operations in Gaza or open crossings between Gaza and the western Negev.
Shalit was kidnapped more than two and a half years ago as he and his unit patrolled near the Kerem Shalom crossing. Soldiers Pavel Slutzker and Hanan Barak were killed in the same attack, and a fourth soldier was severely wounded. Shalit's captors have not allowed international bodies to contact the young soldier, in violation of the Geneva Convention.
Hamas has demanded that Israel release more than 1,000 imprisoned terrorists in exchange for Shalit. A number of those on Hamas' list are senior terrorists serving life sentences for multiple murders.
On Thursday, Olmert announced that Israel had added hundreds more terrorists to the list of those it is willing to release in order to obtain Shalit's freedom. However, Hamas continues to reject Israel's offers, and insists that all terrorists on the list be released.