Gaza faction says 'discussion closed' as deadline passes

GAZA - One of the Palestinian militant groups that abducted an Israeli soldier said no further information would be given on the captive's fate after Israel refused to meet a deadline on Tuesday to free prisoners.

"Discussion is closed," said Abu al-Muthana, spokesman for the Islamic Army in the Gaza Strip. "Whether he will be killed or not killed, we will not disclose any information about the fate of the soldier."

There was no immediate comment from the other two groups that were involved in capturing Corporal Gilad Shalit on June 25.

The Islamic Army is the least well known of the groups. The others are the armed wing of the governing Hamas Islamist group and the Popular Resistance Committees.

Abu al-Muthana said he expected a joint statement later on Tuesday.

The three factions in Gaza had given Israel until 6am (3pm NZT) to free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners - threatening that it should respond by then if it valued the life of the captured soldier.

Refusing to discuss a prisoner exchange, Israel has launched its first offensive in the Gaza Strip since giving up the territory last summer and massed troops and armour for a possible expansion of the ground operation.

- REUTERS