Hamas PM Says He's Working to Secure Israeli Soldier's Release
30 June 2006
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas has demanded that Israel stop its offensive in the Gaza Strip, but says he is working hard to resolve the crisis over a kidnapped Israeli soldier.
Mr. Haniyeh said after Friday prayers in Gaza, the Israeli military offensive aimed at securing the soldier's release is complicating the situation.
Palestinian militants abducted the soldier in a raid on an Israeli military post on Sunday.
The Israeli military is continuing air and artillery strikes in the Gaza Strip, but has delayed a ground invasion under diplomatic pressure.
The United Nations Security Council has scheduled an emergency debate on the situation, Friday.
In Gaza City, Palestinian sources say an Israeli air strike on a car wounded at least one militant.
Separately, the Israeli army said Friday it killed two Palestinian gunmen during a raid in the West Bank city of Nablus.
In other news, the militant al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades says it has kidnapped a second Israeli soldier. The claim has not been confirmed.
The Palestinian prime minister also assured his people that the government is continuing to function, even though nearly a third of its cabinet ministers are in Israeli custody.
Israeli forces Thursday arrested more than 60 Hamas members, including eight government ministers, in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
In another development, Israel has revoked the Jerusalem residency of four Palestinian lawmakers who are Hamas members. An Israeli government spokesman, Mark Regev, called the Hamas officials members of a terrorist organization. The men face possible expulsion from occupied Arab East Jerusalem.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
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