Special Report: Palestine-Israel Conflicts 

    GAZA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Hamas on Wednesday slammed Israel's decision that links the fate of ceasefire and lifting Gaza blockade to the release of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

    As Egypt is working to broker a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, Israeli security cabinet Wednesday said Gaza crossings will not fully open unless Hamas releases Shalit who was captured by Hamas-led militants in 2006.

    "The Israeli decision is a stab in the back to the Egyptian efforts," said Ismail Radwan, a spokesman for Hamas.

    Hamas wants a full ceasefire that secures the lifting of the Israeli closure on the Gaza Strip imposed since Hamas drove out security forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and seized the security and governmental installations there in 2007.

    "Israel can not extort us by these decisions and we stick to our right in defending ourselves. We are not in a hurry for a lull with Israeli standards," Radwan added.

Israel not to open Gaza border crossings until kidnapped Israeli soldier released

    JERUSALEM, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Israel will not accept a ceasefire in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip before kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit is released, Israeli security cabinet decided unanimously Wednesday after discussing the issue for more than four hours.

    "It would be inconceivable" for Israel to accept an Egyptian-proposed ceasefire calling for reopening Gaza border crossings to more-than-limited humanitarian aid without Shalit's release, local daily Ha'aretz quoted Israeli Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit as saying.  Full story

Israel not to open Gaza border crossings until kidnapped Israeli soldier released

    JERUSALEM, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Israel will not accept a ceasefire in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip before kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit is released, Israeli security cabinet decided unanimously Wednesday after discussing the issue for more than four hours.

    "It would be inconceivable" for Israel to accept an Egyptian-proposed ceasefire calling for reopening Gaza border crossings to more-than-limited humanitarian aid without Shalit's release, local daily Ha'aretz quoted Israeli Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit as saying. Full story

Hamas says has passed detailed ceasefire version to Egypt

    GAZA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Islamic Hamas movement on Wednesday said it has presented a detailed version for ceasefire with Israel to Egypt which tries to broker the lull's deal.

    "We handed out our version for a lull that meets the Palestinian people's ambitions of lifting the siege, stopping the aggression and opening the crossings," said Fawzi Barhoum, a spokesman for Hamas. Full story