Special report: Israel launches Gaza assault

    JERUSALEM, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Israel will not negotiate with the Palestinian militants who took an Israeli soldier hostage over the release of prisoners in Israeli jails, according to a statement issued by Israeli prime minister's office on Monday.

    "We will not negotiate on a prisoner release," said the statement, adding that Israel would never yield to the extortion of the Palestinian National Authority and the Hamas-led Palestinian government.

    The statement by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office came hours after three Palestinian militant groups set 6:00 a.m. (0300 GMT) Tuesday as the deadline for Israel to free Palestinian women and minors and 1,000 Palestinian, Arab and Muslim prisoners in Israeli jails for information on the kidnapped Israeli soldier.

    The three militant groups including Hamas' armed wing Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades also threatened that Israel would "bear full responsibility for future consequences" if it failed to meet their demands, without specification.

    A massive Israeli ground offensive in the Gaza Strip entered a sixth day on Monday in a bid to rescue the kidnapped soldier, the first operation of its kind since Israel withdrew forces and settlers from Gaza last summer after 38 years of occupation.

    Israel has insisted on the unconditional release of the 19-year-old Gilad Shalit, who was abducted by Palestinian militants duringa cross-border raid on June 25. Enditem