Скачать или смотреть Hamas says talks suspended over release of captured Israeli soldier

(4 Jul 2008) SHOTLIST
1. Hamas spokesman, Sami Abu Zhuri, standing in hallway
2. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Sami Abu Zhuri, Hamas spokesman:
"The Hamas movement have decided to suspend the talks regarding the captured soldier Gilad Schalit, because of Israeli violation of the calm agreement by closing the crossings and it is worsened compared to before."
3. Zhuri walking away
4. Wide of mosque
5. Hamas leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, walking out of prayers and approaching microphones
6. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas leader in Gaza:
"We still say that maintaining the calm is a national interest, but the Israelis must commit to lifting the siege and opening the crossings and to stop the attacks against our people in the West Bank and the Gaza strip."
7. Haniyeh walking to car
8. Haniyeh's convoy driving away
STORYLINE:
A senior Hamas official in Gaza on Friday said that they had suspended negotiations with the Israeli government over a possible deal to release captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Schalit, held by militants in the Gaza Strip for over two years.
Sami Abu Zhuri said the suspension was due to the Israeli decision to close border crossings along the Gaza Strip in retaliation for a rocket fired on Thursday.
The rocket landed in an open field causing no damage or injuries.
"The Hamas movement have decided to suspend the talks regarding the captured soldier Gilad Schalit, because of Israeli violation of the calm agreement by closing the crossings and it is worsened compared to before," said Zhuri.
Zhuri confirmed a report made by the London-based Arabic-Language al-Hayat newspaper, which told of the suspension of talks on a possible prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas.
The report was based on a quote from Hamas' deputy political chief, Moussa Abu Marzouk, in Syria.
In comments made off camera, an Israeli government official responded to the Hamas statement by saying that "the agreement for calm in the south stipulated that there would be a cessation of rocket fire on Israel, as well as expedite progress on the Gilad Schalit issue."
"The rocket fire has not ended, and we hope that there will be progress on Schalit," added the unnamed official.
Israel crossings with the Gaza Strip have been closed in response to ongoing, sporadic rocket fire that has violated a rocky ceasefire.
Under the terms of the June 19 ceasefire, Palestinian militants were to have halted all assaults on southern Israel and Israel was to have eased its bruising blockade of the Gaza Strip by letting more supplies reach the impoverished territory.
But since the period of calm took hold, 11 rockets and mortars have been fired toward Israel, including a rocket attack on Thursday, the Israeli military said.
Deposed Palestinian Prime Minister and Hamas leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, also brought up the issue by saying that Israel was not living up to its side of the deal.
"We still say that maintaining the calm is a national interest, but the Israelis must commit to lifting the siege and opening the crossings and to stop the attacks against our people in the West Bank and the Gaza strip," said Haniyeh after prayers at a Gaza mosque on Friday.
Israel imposed the economic sanctions on Gaza's 1.4 (m) million people a year ago, after Hamas overran the territory.
Only food and humanitarian supplies have been allowed in and Palestinians report severe shortages in everything from gasoline to cement and shoes.
Talks with Hamas over prisoner exchanges have not been the only negotiations involving captured Israeli soldiers in recent weeks.

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