Three Palestinian militant groups requested on Saturday new demands in exchange of the release of an Israeli soldier under captive since last Sunday.

The three groups are Palestinian ruling Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas)' armed wing al-Qassam Brigades and two other minor groups linked to the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) in Gaza. They have claimed responsibility for the abduction of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

In a joint leaflet sent to reporters, they demanded the release of 1,000 Arab and Moslem prisoners of different nationalities as well as patients who are suffering difficult medical conditions.

They also demanded Israel to end the ongoing military ground offensive in the Gaza Strip.

"The stubborn enemy still insists to deal with brutality that would lead to more blood bathes against its citizens and its towns, " said the groups in the leaflet.

It also referred to the mediations to free the soldier, saying "although they are mediators trying to treat this humanitarian case, the enemy which only knows the language of 'incursion' and is still carrying out destruction and killing."

The leaflet said that if Israel wants to know information related to their soldier, they should release women and children imprisoned in Israeli jails.

According to official figures, there are 95 female prisoners and 313 males under the age of 18 imprisoned in Israeli jails.

It is the second time that the three groups make such an announcement. The leaflet said that "these demands are fair, human and just as an initiative to show that we are serious and have good intentions."

In responds to the demand, Israel has already rejected the Palestinian militants' demand on Saturday morning.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said: "Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has reiterated that there will be no deals, that either (kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad) Shalit will be released or we will act to bring about his release."

Israeli troops continued a broad ground offensive in Gaza on early Saturday in a bid to rescue Shalit.

It is the first major Israeli military ground operation in the Gaza Strip since Israel pulled out soldiers and settlers from it last summer after 38 years of occupation.

Source: Xinhua