MIDDLE EAST: Palestinian prime minister Ismail Haniyeh called yesterday for an immediate end to the Israeli siege of Gaza and for the government and populace to remain steadfast.Speaking at a mosque in his first public appearance since Israel sent tanks into the Gaza Strip, he ruled out exchanging Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, captured on Sunday, for Hamas ministers, legislators and officials detained by Israel early on Thursday.
Israel also appeared to be ruling out a swap involving the soldier and Hamas political figures because the Israeli attorney general has already initiated legal proceedings against the detainees. Prosecutions are to be based on their membership of a banned organisation and incrimination in the seizure of the soldier.
Warned by Israel that he too could be targeted by a missile attack or snatch squad, Mr Haniyeh said the Israeli offensive was not meant to merely rescue the soldier but to bring down the Hamas government.
"When they kidnapped the ministers, they meant to hijack the government's position, but we say no positions will be hijacked, no governments will fall." He and his ministers may be detained or assassinated, "but the Palestinian flag will not fall", he said.
However, there is speculation that if the Palestinian government is unable to function and the legislature cannot meet or muster a quorum because of the detention of members, President Mahmud Abbas may have to dismiss the cabinet and dissolve parliament. He would then appoint a government of non- party technocrats and, perhaps, resign.
The mass detentions in Ramallah, Nablus, East Jerusalem and Jenin demonstrate that Israel is able to operate freely in the West Bank and to seize almost anyone it wishes. Raids and arrests take place every night but the Sabbath, and have become routine.
While there seems to be no chance of an exchange of the soldier for Hamas politicians and officials, the Lebanese daily Al-Safir reported that negotiations are taking place on a deal which would free the corporal for the handing over of a number of Palestinian prisoners.
His captors - the Popular Resistance Committees and Hamas's military wing - have demanded the freeing of 95 women and 313 minors. Al-Safir said the Israeli would be freed and the prisoners would be released some time later, perhaps into Egyptian custody.
Palestinians expect a pause in Israeli military action until the Sabbath ends this evening, but cannot predict what will happen thereafter. Fearing escalation, many families appear to be hoarding fuel and foodstuffs in Gaza, which is totally cut off from external supplies because all goods crossing points are closed.
A senior official in the Gaza City council said that the city requires 2,500 to 3,000 litres of diesel fuel a day for the essential generators which pump water and sewage. Four new generators are urgently needed to draw water from Gaza City's 12 wells.
Two sonic booms resounded in quick succession over the phone line as he was speaking.
Israeli warplanes overfly the Strip day and night, breaking the sound barrier, shaking the nerves of adults and terrorising children already traumatised by years of conflict.
Meanwhile, Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak is trying to resolve the crisis before the situation deteriorates further. But few observers believe that there can be an early settlement. One analyst explained: "Israel cannot back down. The critical factor is psychological: it cannot bear the thought that its soldier is under the control of people it calls terrorists. Israel also does not know how to deal with Hamas.
"Hamas is not ready to back down even though the political leadership may have not been responsible for the seizure of the soldier by the movement's military wing. Most of its members are young men in their 20s who have nothing to live for, so they are prepared to die."