Hamas denies Israeli soldier to be freed
published: Friday | July 28, 2006

Palestinian relatives of two children and their mother, killed to-gether when an Israeli artillery shell hit their house, mourn during their funeral in northern Gaza yesterday. Israeli forces killed 24 Palestinians in fighting across the Gaza Strip, including at least 12 militants, two children and their mother, and a handicapped man, medics and witnesses said. - Reuters

GAZA (Reuters):

The armed wing of the Hamas militant group yesterday dismissed comment from President Mahmoud Abbas, during a visit to Rome, that a solution could be imminent to the case of a captured Israeli soldier.

The Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades was among three factions that captured Corporal Gilad Shalit on June 25 in a cross-border raid from Gaza. Israel rejected demands for a prisoner swap and launched an offensive that has killed 148 Palestinians.

"Nothing has changed in the case of the Israeli soldier," said Abu Ubaida, spokesman for the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades.