Gaza Jihad and Counter-Jihad Update from AP:
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Israeli aircraft fired missiles at the Palestinian prime minister’s office early Sunday, just hours after a Palestinian official said the soldier whose abduction sent Israeli troops into Gaza is alive and in stable condition.
A Hamas militant was killed in another Israeli airstrike.
Palestinians witnesses said two missiles fired by attack helicopters hit the Gaza City office of Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas early Sunday, slightly injuring a bystander and setting the empty building on fire.
Inspecting his burning office, Haniyeh called the attack senseless.
“They have targeted a symbol for the Palestinian people,” he said….
Haniyeh was probably assuming another supine response.
The Hamas-affiliated militants holding Shalit initially said they would trade information about him for all Palestinian women and underage prisoners in Israeli jails. The militants raised the stakes Saturday, calling for an end to the Israeli offensive and the release of 1,000 other prisoners in Israel, including some who are not Palestinian.
The new demand appeared aimed at rallying support in the Arab world.
Israel has ruled out any compromise, saying it would only encourage more abductions.
Well, well. It’s about time.
Israel continued to hold 64 Hamas leaders rounded up in the West Bank Thursday night. They include eight Cabinet ministers.
Israel has also blamed Syria for the kidnapping, noting it gives haven to Hamas’ top leaders.
Hamas, which controls the Palestinian Cabinet after winning legislative elections in January, insisted Shalit should not be freed without a prisoner swap.
Israel “should understand that it is not easy for the Palestinian people to say, ‘OK, we can release him,’ … without a price,” said Ghazi Hamad, a spokesman for the Hamas-led Cabinet.
Of course. Otherwise they wouldn’t have seized him. But maybe Israel is not so ready to play the dhimmi this time.