Israel’s Gaza Strip offensive could cost the life of an Israeli soldier captured in June whose freedom is one of the operation’s objectives, Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmud Zahar warned yesterday. “The Israeli aggression could target the life of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, because (Israeli bombardments) could target (the place of detention of) the soldier,” Zahar was quoted as saying by Egypt’s official MENA agency. Israel has carried out offensive operations in the impoverished territory since June 28, three days after a cross-border raid in which two Israeli soldiers were killed and Shalit was captured. More than 300 Palestinians have been killed since the air raids and incursions began. Zahar, from the ruling Islamist Hamas party whose armed wing claimed joint responsibility for Shalit’s capture, warned that other Israeli soldiers could be captured if they “try to enter (the place of detention) and we will thus have new detainees”.