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Hamas says talks suspended on Israeli soldier's release
2 hours ago
GAZA CITY (AFP) — Hamas said on Friday it had suspended negotiations on the release of a captured Israeli soldier because the Jewish state was not respecting the terms of a truce with the Islamist movement. "Hamas has suspended indirect negotiations with the enemy over (Corporal Gilad) Shalit because of the non-respect by the enemy of the terms of the truce, notably the opening of crossing points and authorising the entry of all merchandise" into the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, said Osama al-Muzeini, the Islamists' pointman on Shalit.</snip>
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I - and others - have posted the many breaches of this ceasefire treaty by Hamas in the *Breaking News* forum.
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Negotiations would resume at a date that would be set "once the enemy demonstrates it is serious and respects the agreements that have been reached." Muzeini said Hamas demanded that 1,000 prisoners eventually be released, with 450 who are serving long sentences being freed in a first stage as part of an eventual exchange deal.
To date Israel has approved the names of only 70 of the 450, he said. "I believe that if the enemy finds itself faced with a tough negotiator, it will end up making concessions," Muzeini added. The negotiations have stalled primarily over Israel balking at releasing people with "blood on their hands."</snip>
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AFP: Hamas says talks suspended on Israeli soldier's release
As is obvious by now, Hamas never intended to honor the current ceasefire. It seems the main Hamas thrust of entering into a ceasefire at all was to force the release of incarcerated Palestinian gunmen at a ratio of 1,000 to 1.
Israel should just recognize this ceasefire for what it actually is - a farce - and resume all internal and external pressures upon Hamas.