GAZA CITY, Gaza, July 9 (UPI) -- Hamas officials Wednesday reiterated support of the three-month truce with Israel, but warned their "patience is limited."
The Ha'aretz newspaper said the spiritual leader of Hamas, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, warned Israel's unwillingness to free thousands of Palestinian prisoners could undermine the cease-fire.
Yassin told reporters in Gaza, "Israeli practices [including] the issue of the prisoners, are a red line that can never be bypassed in any way or form."
But an Israeli cabinet minister said Wednesday Israel would reject requests to lift a ban on releasing Hamas and Islamic Jihad prisoners.
Likud cabinet minister Tzipi Livni said such a step would be contrary to the road map peace plan.
She told Israel Radio that under provisions of the road map, the Palestinians must act against terrorist organizations, specifically to arrest Hamas and Islamic Jihad members.
She added, "It's hard to understand demands on Israel to free ... those same terrorists of the Hamas and the Jihad..."
