 Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz |
A top Israeli official has threatened to murder Hamas Premier Ismail Haniya if the group keeps Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in custody.
"As long as Gilad Shalit doesn't see the light of day, you won't see the light of day. As long as Shalit doesn't go free, you and your friends will not be free. We won't hesitate to send you on the way we sent Yassin and Rantissi," Israeli Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz was quoted by Haaretz as saying.
Top Hamas leaders Abdel-Aziz al-Rantissi and Sheikh Ahmed Yassin were killed in separate Israeli attacks in April and March 2004.
Mofaz had formerly urged the government to resume what Israel calls 'targeted assassination' tactic in dealing with the democratically elected government of Hamas.
The Israeli minister threatened to assassinate the Palestinian prime minister if efforts fail to free Shalit who was captured by Palestinian fighters two years ago in a cross-border operation.
An Israeli official had earlier said, Shalit has been "the subject of a consensus both in the government and the general public and we will be able to pay the most awful price for his release."
Hamas demands the release of Palestinian detainees as well as opening of border crossing as preconditions for the release of the Israeli soldier.
Earlier this week, Ayman Taha, a senior Hamas official said Tel Aviv is considering the opening of the Gaza crossings as well as releasing 1,000 prisoners in exchange for Shalit.
An Israeli official had earlier said, Shalit has been "the subject of a consensus both in the government and the general public and we will be able to pay the most awful price for his release."
Hamas demands the release of Palestinian detainees as well as opening of border crossing as preconditions for the release of the Israeli soldier.
Earlier this week, Ayman Taha, a senior Hamas official said Tel Aviv is considering the opening of the Gaza crossings as well as releasing 1,000 prisoners in exchange for Shalit.
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