GILAD SHALIT

'Gilad Shalit' (; born 28 August 1986) is an Israeli soldier who was abducted by Hamas militants on 25 June 2006. [2] Shalit, a member of the IDF's Armor Corps, holds the rank of corporal and is the first Israeli soldier taken as a POW by Palestinians since Nachshon Wachsman in 1994^[1], he was abducted by Hamas in a terrorist act and is one of three Israeli soldiers to have been abducted by terrorists. His kidnapping, and the later kidnapping of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev by Hezbollah caused the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon during summer 2006.
On 25 June, 2007, B'Tselem issued a statement [3] in which the continued holding of Shalit by Hamas as hostage is a "International humanitarian law absolutely prohibits taking and holding a person by force in order to compel the enemy to meet certain demands" and thus considered a war crime.
That same day, a year after Shalit's abduction, the military wing of Hamas, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam, released an audio tape on which Shalit is heard sending a message to his family, friends and the Israeli government and army and appealing for a prisoner-swap deal to be reached to secure his release. Shalit states that his medical condition is deteriorating and that he requires immediate and lengthy hospitalization.
The tape is the first sign of life from Shalit since his capture a year ago.

Contents

Personal life

Abduction

Rescue attempt

Diplomatic efforts

References

See also

External links

Personal life

Gilad Shalit was born on 28 August 1986 in Nahariya, Israel, and was raised from the age of two in Mitzpe Hila in the western Galilee. He graduated with distinction from Manor Kabri High School. Shalit began military service in the Israel Defense Forces in July 2005, and “despite a low medical profile, he preferred to serve in a combat unit, following his elder brother Yoel into the armored corps.”^[2] He holds dual Israeli and French citizenship.^[3]

Abduction

Early on Sunday morning, 25 June 2006, Shalit was abducted by Palestinian militants who attacked an Israeli army post on the Israeli side of the southern Gaza Strip border after having crossed through an underground tunnel near the Kerem Shalom border crossing. During the morning attack, two IDF soldiers were killed and three others wounded, aside from Shalit, who himself suffered a broken left hand and a light shoulder wound after his tank was hit with an RPG.^[4]
Shalit’s captors issued a statement on Monday, 26 June 2006, offering information on Shalit if Israel agreed to release all female Palestinian prisoners and all Palestinian prisoners under the age of 18.^[5] The statement came from the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades (the military wing of the Palestinian governing party Hamas), the Popular Resistance Committees (which includes members of Fatah, Islamic Jihad, and Hamas), and a previously unknown group calling itself the Army of Islam.

Rescue attempt

Main articles: 2006 Israel-Gaza conflict

Israeli forces entered Khan Yunis on 28 June 2006 to search for Shalit. According to David Siegel, a spokesman at the Israeli embassy in Washington, D. C., “Israel did everything it could in exhausting all diplomatic options and gave Mahmoud Abbas the opportunity to return the kidnapped Israeli… This operation can be terminated immediately, conditioned on the release of Gilad Shalit.”^[6]
On 29 June, the commander of the Israeli Southern Command, Aluf Yoav Galant, confirmed that Shalit was still in Gaza. Israel’s Minister of Justice, Haim Ramon, added that Shalit was being held in southern Gaza, specifically. The military correspondent for the Israel Broadcasting Authority claimed that Shalit was being held captive in Rafah, and that there was indication that he was still alive. However, IDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Miri Regev stated, “we are not convinced he is being held in southern Gaza… [only] that he is being held in Gaza.”^[7]
On 1 July, the BBC reported that Shalit had been treated by a Palestinian doctor for a broken hand and a light shoulder wound. Israeli governmental authorities threatened that the “sky will fall” if Shalit is harmed.^[8]
On the same day, Shalit’s Palestinian captors issued another demand to the Israelis, asking them to free 1,000 Palestinian prisoners (in addition to all women and young prisoners as previously demanded) and to end Israel’s incursion into Gaza.^[9] Two days later, the captors issued a 24-hour ultimatum for meeting their demands, threatening unspecified consequences if Israel refused.^[10] Hours after the ultimatum was issued, Israel officially rejected demands, stating that “there will be no negotiations to release prisoners.”^[11]
After Shalit’s abduction, the Papal Nuncio to Israel, Archbishop Antonio Franco, made an unsuccessful attempt to secure the release of Shalit via the Catholic Church’s Gaza-based parish.^[12]

Diplomatic efforts

In September 2006, Egyptian mediators received a letter written by Gilad in which he stated that he was alive and well. The handwriting was confirmed to be that of Cpl. Shalit.^[13] In October, Egypt was also reported to be negotiating with Hamas on behalf of Israel for Shalit’s release.[4]
On 28 October 2006, the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) said in a statement that all three parties had agreed to a proposal by Egyptian mediators regarding the release of corporal Gilad Shalit. The PRC did not provide details, but said that the Egyptian proposal would include the release of Palestinians held by Israel.[5] It was the first time since Shalit’s abduction that any of the factions indicated that his release might be imminent.
On 5 November 2006, the PRC confirmed that Shalit was alive and would not be harmed.[6] Later that month, Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal also indicated that Shalit was in good health.[7]
On 6 December 2006, Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak stated that a prisoner swap deal for Gilad Shalit was in its final stages.[8]
On 4 January 2007, Hamas offered to give Israel a videotape proving that Shalit is still alive if Israel released all Palestinian women and children from Israeli prisons.[9] Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert rejected Hamas’s proposal. Shalit’s father, Noam Shalit, seemed to agree with the government’s response, stating on 7 January, “I want my son back, not a video or a letter.”^[14]
On 9 January 2007, Abu Mujahed, a spokesman for the captors, asserted that Shalit “has not been harmed at all,” going on to say, “He is being treated in accordance with Islamic values regulating the treatment of prisoners of war.” However, he threatened, “We have managed to keep the soldier in captivity for six months and we have no problem keeping him for years.”^[15]
To date, Gilad is the only captive Israeli soldier to have been confirmed to be alive by his captors. Hezbollah has not revealed whether the two Israeli soldiers they abducted are alive.
On 17 January 2007, one of the captor groups, the Army of Islam headed by Mumtaz Dormush, claimed that Shalit is held exclusively by Hamas.^[16]
On 8 March 2007, The Jerusalem Post reported that an agreement has been reached with Hamas over the number of prisoners Israel will release in return for Cpl. Gilad Schalit. Israel and Hamas are still negotiating specific prisoners that Hamas wants freed in return for Shalit.[10]
On 7 April 2007, It was reported that the captors of Gilad Shalit have transferred to Israel, via Egyptian mediators, a list of Palestinian prisoners they want freed. The list includes approximately 1300 names some of which are high ranking Fatah members. [11]

References

1. Israeli forces enter north Gaza
2. Behind the Headlines: Six months in terrorist captivity
3. Shalit’s dad: ‘Hope is all we have left’ Yoav, ''et al.'' Appel
4. Shalit’s health better than first feared Gil, ''et al.'' Hoffman
5. Militants issue Israel hostage demands
6. Israeli Army Enters Gaza to Find Kidnapped Soldier (update 2) David Rosenberg
7. Today in the News
8. Israel: ‘Sky will fall’ if soldier is harmed
9. FACTBOX—The crisis over Israel’s captured soldier
10. Palestinian militants issue ultimatum to Israel
11. Minister Ramon: IDF operations in Gaza will be ‘far far worse’ if Shalit harmed
12. Pope’s rep tried for Shalit’s release
13. Proof of life letter from captive Israeli soldier
14. Mother of soldier snatched by Hezbollah slams politicians’ inaction Jack Khoury
15. ‘We’re ready to keep Shalit for years’ Khaled Abu Toameh
16. Haaretz: Army of Islam: IDF soldier Shalit held exclusively by Hamas, January 18, 2007

See also

★ Ehud Goldwasser

★ Eldad Regev

★ Israeli MIAs

★ Muamar family detention incident

★ Zachary Baumel

External links

★ Banim.org – Official site for the 2006 MIAs (Shalit, Goldwasser, Regev)

★ /

★ Gaza Kidnapping of Israeli Soldier – News and updates related to Gilad Shalit

★ Free Gilad Shalit –Website providing Information related to campaign to Free Gilad Shalit

★ Shalit's audio tape recording as of June 25, 2007 (Hebrew)

★ Gilad Shalit's Second Birthday as a Hostage