GAZA, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Prime Minister and senior Hamas leader Ismail Haneya called on Tuesday for extending diplomatic efforts toward a solution to the Gaza crisis triggered by the abduction of an Israeli soldier by Palestinian militants.
Haneya made the call during a meeting with his Gaza-based ministers in.
The prime minister also urged the kidnappers not to kill the Israeli soldier.
Haneya also said that the Hamas-led government had been contacting Palestinian groups and regional powers in a bid to solve the current crisis "in a suitable way."
The deadline set by three Palestinian militant groups including Hamas' armed wing for Israel to release Palestinian women and minors and 1,000 prisoners in Israel jails in exchange for the kidnaped soldier expired at 6:00 a.m. (0300 GMT) on Tuesday.
Israel has rejected the ultimatum, vowing no negotiations with the Palestinian militants.
In response, the militants who hold the soldier hostage announced that they decided to withdraw from talks with mediators.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Hamas-led Palestinian government also said on Tuesday that there was still chance for reaching a diplomatic solution to the Gaza crisis despite the deadline's expiry.
"We have appealed for the safety of the Israeli soldier's life from the outset of his abduction," Ghazi Hamad told reporters in Gaza City. "We have also urged for a solution to this problem through diplomatic channels."
Hamad also warned Israel against continuing its "aggressive plans" against the Palestinian people, accusing the Jewish state of "creating pretexts for carrying out atrocities against the Palestinians."
The spokesman also called for international efforts to stop the ongoing Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip and praised Egypt for its mediating efforts.
Israeli troops continued a massive military offensive in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, the first such move since Israel pulled out forces and settlers from the coastal strip last summer after 38 years of occupation.
The operation, launched on June 28, is aimed to free the 19-year-old tank gunner, Gilad Shalit, who was kidnapped by Palestinian militants during a cross-border raid on June 25.
Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' armed wing, took part in the attack.
But the Hamas-led government said that it did not order the abduction and had no foreknowledge of the cross-border raid.
Hamas, or the Islamic Resistance Movement, calls for Israel's destruct. The group took power in late March after a January election victory.
Israel has hinted that Hamas leaders might be targets of assassinations if Shalit is not released. Enditem
