Militants give Israel 24-hour deadline to release prisoners

Palestinian militants today gave Israel 24 hours to start releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, implying they will kill an abducted Israeli soldier tomorrow morning if their demands are not met.

Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert rejected any negotiations with the militants, and the army pressed ahead with its Gaza offensive, but privately some Israeli officials said the government has not ruled out any options to win Cpl Gilad Shalit’s freedom.