PM tells Palestinians to 'remain steadfast'

In his first public address since Israel began its offensive into the Gaza Strip, Palestinian prime minister Ismail Haniyeh today told followers at a mosque that the Palestinians would remain steadfast despite Israel’s arrest of eight Cabinet ministers.

Though Haniyeh did not directly address Israel’s demand that Palestinian militants hand over an abducted Israeli soldier, he implied that the government would not trade him for the Cabinet ministers and 56 other Hamas officials arrested yesterday.