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Terrorist Deadline Passes in Gaza

The deadline set by the terrorist groups holding an Israeli soldier hostage ? to begin the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails by 6:00 am, July 4 ? passed without incident, save for more Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip, with the terrorists stating that even though the deadline had passed, they wouldn?t kill the soldier. Israeli troops operating in the northern Gaza Strip continued efforts to prevent the movement of the kidnapped soldier, and also to prevent the launching of Kassam rockets into the Jewish state.

And while the Israeli government has blamed both the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority, the PA president, Fatah member Mahmoud Abbas, and Syria for the attack last week which led to the kidnapping and the deaths of two other soldiers, no action further than attacking the PA prime minister?s office and buzzing a presidential palace of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad has taken place.

Meanwhile, in Switzerland the government denounced the Israelis actions in Gaza, claiming that Israel was violating human rights. Israel protested this, saying that Israel was doing all it could to prevent harm to Palestinian civilians and was allowing some aid to get through. The Swiss government also denounced the taking hostage of the Israeli soldier, Corporal Gilad Shalit, but seemed more heavy-handed in terms of condemnations when it came to Israel. No mention of the Geneva Conventions was made.