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Israeli Hostage Alive: Hamas

Offer to avoid civilian targets

By Lucas Laursen, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 31, 2008 7:52 AM CDT

(Newser) – Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit is alive, Hamas leader Khalid Meshaal tells Britain's Sky News. "Gilad is alive and we are treating him well but Israel is treating the Palestinian prisoners they hold very badly," he said in an interview in Damascus, offering the first word in almost a year on the hostage, who was captured in a cross-border raid in 2006. Meshaal also offered to negotiate with Israeli and Palestinian authorities.

Meshaal renewed a 10-year-old pledge to attack only military targets if the Israelis would do the same. “We renew our offer to Israel to let the civilians on both sides not be a part of this conflict," he said. And he invited Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to discuss how to return “Gaza and the West Bank to unity and solve the security problem.”

This is an undated handout photo released by the Shalit family of Israeli soldier, Cpl. Gilad Shalit, 19, in an unknown location in Israel. Khalid Meshaal announced that Shalit is still alive. (AP Photo)

A banner showing captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit is seen Friday, Dec. 14, 2007. Hamas announced Sunday, March 30, 2008 that Shalit is still alive. (AP Photo/Atta Awisat)

Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal delivers a speech Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008. Meshaal told Sky News that Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit is alive and well. (AP Photo/Bassem Tellawi)

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Offer to avoid civilian targets

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Offer to avoid civilian targets

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Israel • Gaza • Mahmoud Abbas • Palestine • Hamas • West Bank • Gilad Shalit • Khaled Meshaal • hostage

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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Hamas Would Accept Peace With Israel: Carter

Militant faction would follow Abbas-led deal if put to vote

Peace Talks Snag on Jerusalem

Palestinians want to discuss issue Israelis say isn't on the table

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Jericho get-together signals progress in stalled peace process

Rice Pushes Peace Talks With Olmert, Abbas

Takes mission to Jerusalem, West Bank

Israel to Release 250 Fatah Prisoners

PM Olmert makes pledge at summit with Arab leaders

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