PRC: No plan to kill Gilad Shalit

Palestinian group claiming to hold captured Israeli soldier says it will not kill him despite bloody Israeli offensive in Gaza Strip, but adds that serviceman's life is 'in danger through incursion and bombing of houses'
Associated Press

A Palestinian terrorist group claiming to hold a captured Israeli soldier on Sunday said it has no plans to kill the serviceman, despite a bloody Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Warning

Lieberman: Haniyeh will join 'martyrs' if Shalit harmed / Ronny Sofer

Lieberman at Sunday cabinet meetings: 'It should be made clear that if anything happens to Gilad Shalit, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and Interior Minister Sayid Siam will join the martyr's list'

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However, Abu Mujahid, a spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committees, said the soldier could be harmed by Israel’s military activity.

"Gilad Shalit’s life is in danger through the incursion and bombing of houses," said Abu Mujahid.

Shalit was captured in a June 25 cross-border raid by militants from the Popular Resistance Committee, a violent group with ties to the ruling Hamas movement.

Israel invaded Gaza shortly after the kidnapping. Last week, it stepped up its operations in the northern Gaza Strip, aiming to halt Palestinian rocket attacks.

Nearly 50 Palestinians, most of them terrorists, have been killed since last Wednesday.

Egypt has been trying to mediate a deal in which Israel would free dozens of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit. But the sides have not been able to reach a solution.