Israel today rejected demands from Palestinian militants who captured an Israeli soldier to free 1,000 prisoners from its jails and kept up air strikes on Gaza aimed at winning his release.
The militants seized Corporal Gilad Shalit in a raid across the Gaza Strip's frontier last Sunday, sparking a crisis that has sent Israeli-Palestinian relations to new lows.
"Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has reiterated that there will be no deals, that either Shalit will be released or we will act to bring about his release," said Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Mark Regev, responding to the fresh demands.
A statement from the militants did not specify that freeing the 1,000 "Palestinian, Arab and Muslim prisoners" and ending Israel's Gaza assault would be in exchange for corporal Shalit's freedom.
But a spokesman for the armed wing of the governing Hamas movement, one of the three factions that captured corporal Shalit, said that was what it meant. The statement from the groups appeared to cast doubt on the hopes of mediators that diplomacy could soon free Shalit, 19.
"We are declaring to the public our just and humanitarian demands," said the statement faxed to news agencies by the Hamas armed wing, the Popular Resistance Committees and Army of Islam.
It repeated an earlier call to free women prisoners and minors in exchange for information on corporal Shalit - the groups have not said if he is dead or alive. It said freed prisoners would have to include all Palestinian faction leaders as well as humanitarian cases.
Israeli aircraft today fired missiles at training camps and access routes used by militants to fire rockets at the Jewish state, but kept on hold a threatened ground assault into northern Gaza. There have been few casualties so far.
Artillery also fired barrages at areas used by militants. Palestinian residents said Israeli troops arriving by helicopter raided a house in a village close to the Rafah area where Israeli forces have already deployed.
Israeli tanks entered the southern Gaza Strip this week in the biggest push into the territory since Israel pulled out troops and settlers last year after 38 years of occupation. Air strikes have targeted roads, bridges, power plants, areas used to fire rockets and the Interior Ministry offices.
Two militants have been killed. Piling on further pressure, Israel has detained dozens of Hamas cabinet ministers and lawmakers in the West Bank.