Israelis block Karem Abu Salem crossing to stop humanitarian aid to Gaza

1. Israelis block Karem Abu Salem crossing to stop humanitarian aid to Gaza
Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:54:29
Shireen Yassin, Press TV, Karem Abu Salem crossing

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2. Hamas: Israeli pressure not to alter our stance on Shalit
Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:51:46
Ashraf Shannon, Press TV, Gaza

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Related News Item:
Israelis demand the release of captured soldier Shalit
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Source: IMEMC

Scores of Israelis organized on Sunday a sit-in on the Israeli side of Gaza-Israel southern border lines, demanding their government to ensure the release of Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, captured in Gaza for more than two years now.

Demonstrators held their protest at the Kerem Shalom commercial crossing in southern Gaza, blocking shipment of goods and commodities to the Gaza Strip, amidst an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire deal, media sources reported.

Over the past several months, both the ruling Hamas in Gaza and Israel have been negotiating a prisoner swap deal through Egyptian mediators, for the release of Shalit and freedom of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners inside Israeli jails.

So far, negotiations have achieved no progress as Hamas insists that Israel must release a list of prisoners with long-term sentences, as well as almost 350 women and a number of juveniles.

Israel has long rejected Hamas's list and has recently prepared a list of its own, yet no breakthrough in Egyptian mediation efforts is yet to be observed.

In June2006, Hamas fighters managed to capture soldier Shalit, during a cross-border attack near the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza. Israel then responded with lethal force, killing more than 450 Palestinian men, women and children, in addition to destroying water, electricity networks and bridges.

Israel continues to hold more than 11.500 Palestinian prisoners inside its jails in Israel or in the occupied West Bank. Palestinian peace negotiators have been long demanding their release, yet Israel keeps up procrastinating. (End.)