Hamas 'must prove' Shalit alive

23 June 2011 Last updated at 11:00 GMT Sgt Shalit has been held by Palestinian militants for the past five years The Red Cross has called on Palestinian militant group Hamas to provide proof that captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit is still alive.

The aid agency made the unusual public appeal as Israel prepares to mark five years since his capture on Saturday.

The ICRC said there had been "no sign of life" from the 24-year-old in almost two years.

Hamas wants hundreds of Palestinian detainees freed from Israeli jails in exchange for the soldier.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the demand unless some of the worst offenders - including 450 with Israeli "blood on their hands" - are exiled. Hamas has rejected this condition.

Continue reading the main story 1 Oct 2009: Video received in exchange for prisoner releaseDec 2008-Jan 2009: Truce breaks down. Israel begins 22-day operation in Gaza18 June 2008: Hamas-Israel truce agreed10 June 2008: Letter received "in Shalit's writing"25 June 2007: Audio message received28 June 2006: Israeli troops enter Gaza after launching air strikes26 June 2006: Militants demand prisoner release deal25 June 2006: Shalit seized in cross-border attackSupport for a prisoner exchange deal appears to be growing among the Israeli public. A poll earlier this week showed that 63% favoured a deal, while only 19% were opposed.

Gilad Shalit was 19 when he was captured on 25 June 2006 by three armed Gaza groups, including Hamas.

He has been held ever since at a secret location in Gaza and has not been permitted visits by the Red Cross.

The last sign of life was in October 2009, when Hamas released a video of him calling on Mr Netanyahu to do everything to free him.

"The total absence of information concerning Mr Shalit is completely unacceptable," ICRC director-general Yves Daccord said in a statement.

"The Shalit family have the right under international humanitarian law to be in contact with their son," he added.

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Hamas rejects Fatah's PM nominee

12 June 2011 Last updated at 08:56 GMT Fatah wants Salam Fayyad as PM The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas has rejected its rival Fatah's nomination of Salam Fayyad as prime minister in a transitional government.

The decision came hours after Fatah agreed to back Mr Fayyad, who currently heads the Palestinian Authority government in the West Bank.

Delegates from the two factions are due to meet on Tuesday in Cairo to agree the make-up of the new government.

Fatah and Hamas signed a deal in May ending their four-year split.

The agreement paved the way for a joint interim government ahead of national elections next year.

The Fatah-led Palestinian Authority runs parts of the West Bank, while Hamas governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas is designated a terrorist group by Israel, the US and the EU.

"The Fatah central committee's nomination of Salam Fayyad to head the government is a Fatah nomination and any head of the new government must be chosen by consensus and not, of course, by one of the parties," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told AFP news agency.

Correspondents say Hamas' rejection of the nomination of Mr Fayyad, a US-educated economist, could compromise foreign support for the new government.

Continue reading the main story January 2006 - Hamas wins Palestinian Authority legislative electionMarch 2006 - Hamas government sworn in; US and EU suspend tiesFebruary-March 2007 - Fatah and Hamas agree to form coalition to end growing factional warfareJune 2007 - Hamas seizes control of Gaza from Fatah after continued fighting; unity government dissolved; Israel tightens blockade of Gaza StripWith him as prime minister, international concerns that aid money would fall into Hamas's hands would have eased, they add.

Under the deal signed in May, the first step was to form an interim government of technocrats whose task will be to work on reconciliation and prepare for new elections.

Leading members of Hamas and Fatah had said they would stay out of this government in the short term.

Israel has expressed disapproval of the move and suspended tax transfers to the Palestinian Authority, with the Israeli finance minister saying payments would be stopped until it was clear money would not go to militants in Hamas.

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