Masri: Shalit to be released only after captors conditions are met

Masri: Shalit to be released only after captors conditions are met

Hamas MP Mushir Al-Masri has affirmed that all attempts to blackmail or pressure the captors of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit had ended up in failure.

He said in a press release on Tuesday that Hamas would never back down on its conditions for the release of Shalit, adding that his life is not more precious nor more honorable than the lives of 8,000 Palestinian captives held in Israeli dungeons.

The lawmaker underlined that the Palestinian people’s options to release those prisoners would remain open until they are all freed from Israeli captivity.

The Israeli enemy will not enjoy stability or security and the Palestinian people will not remain idle until all prisoners are freed, Masri said.

He said that the Israeli enemy was out of options after it trekked all possible means to impose its conditions and release Shalit for free whether through war or threats.

Masri concluded saying, “Our lives are not better than those of our prisoners, threats will not terrorize us and will not make us backtrack (on our demands)”.

Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu had warned Hamas leaders that they would pay the price if they did not hand over Shalit.