Hamas suspends talks over Shalit

Gilad Shalit was captured in a raid into Israel by militants in June 2006

Hamas says it has suspended indirect talks over a proposed prisoner exchange deal due to involve the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

The militant group said Israel was not respecting a truce agreement, in particular by closing its border crossings with the Gaza Strip.

Israel agreed to ease its blockade of Gaza as part of the truce.

Israel has shut the border crossings several times in response to sporadic Palestinian rocket attacks.

In the latest incident, the crossings were shut on Thursday after one rocket was fired into southern Israel.

Hamas has arrested several of those allegedly involved in recent rocket attacks.

Israel and Hamas say the truce, launched on 19 June, is holding, though both sides accuse the other of violations.

Egyptian mediation

Egypt has been mediating with the two sides over the eventual release of Cpl Shalit, seized in June 2006 in a raid into Israel by militants from Hamas and other Palestinian groups.

About 8,500 Palestinians are being held in jails in Israel

Hamas is seeking the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

About 8,500 Palestinians are held in prisons in Israel. About 700 Palestinians are being held in administrative detention, without charge or trial.

Reports from Palestinian human rights groups say that Israeli forces have broken the ceasefire by shooting at farmers near the border and at fishermen.

The truce is designed to halt Israeli incursions into the Gaza Strip, and stop rockets and mortars being fired from Gaza into southern Israel.

Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip a year ago, driving out security forces loyal to the Fatah faction of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Israel tightened its restrictions on travel in and out of Gaza last year, sharply cutting back on supplies into the impoverished and crowded territory after the Hamas takeover.