Palestinian militants issue ultimatum to Israel
(AP)
Updated: 2006-07-03 15:05
In the latest air strikes, a helicopter fired a missile into a building in
Gaza City that the army said was used by militants. No one was hurt. Two
missiles also hit areas in northern Gaza, slightly wounding one person.
But ground forces have largely avoided clashes while Egypt mediates in a
crisis that has pushed Israeli-Palestinian ties to new lows and piled pressure
on the Hamas-led government, already on the brink of financial collapse from a
Western aid embargo.
In their new communique, the militant groups accused Israel of bad faith in
the Egyptian-led mediation effort.
There was no immediate Israeli response to the communique.
In tough comments on Monday, Olmert warned leaders of the Hamas-led
government that any of them could be attacked if harm came to the abducted
soldier.
Hamas' armed wing and other militants have responded by threatening to strike
inside Israel.
Some Palestinian officials said Egyptian mediation was continuing but
foundering because of Israel's military moves in Gaza, home to 1.4 million
people.
One official with knowledge of the talks said mediators would suspend their
involvement on Monday night if Hamas did not show more flexibility. Another said
no deadline had been issued.
A Palestinian official has quoted mediators as saying Shalit was alive after
being treated for wounds.
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