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Gilad Shalit

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"Shalit" redirects here. For other uses, see Shalit (disambiguation).
Gilad Shalit
File:Gilad Shalit.jpeg
Gilad Shalit (image courtesy of the Shalit family)
AllegianceIsrael
RankStaff Sergeant[1]
UnitArmor Corps
Battles/warsOperation Summer Rains

Gilad Shalit (Hebrew: גלעד שליט, born 28 August 1986) is an Israeli soldier who was captured[2] on 25 June 2006 by Palestinian militants in a cross border raid from the Gaza Strip on the crossing Kerem Shalom (in Israel) and has been held hostage by Hamas since. Shalit is believed to be alive.[3][4][5][6][7][8] Shalit, a soldier of the IDF's Armor Corps, held the rank of corporal at the time of the incident but has since been promoted to staff sergeant.[1]

He became the first Israeli soldier captured[9] by militant Palestinian forces since Nachshon Wachsman in 1994.[10] His abduction[11] and the following cross border raid by Hezbollah, resulting in the abduction of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev into Lebanon, occurred prior to the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon during summer 2006. Shalit holds French citizenship, a fact that encouraged France and the European Union to be involved to some extent in the efforts to release him.[12] Recently, he also received Italian citizenship.[13] Hamas has barred the International Red Cross from seeing him, and demands the release of 450 Palestinian prisoners.[14][15][16]

Personal life

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."[17] He holds dual Israeli and French citizenship.[18]

Capture

Early on Sunday morning, 25 June 2006, Shalit was captured by Palestinian militants who surprise attacked an Israeli army post on the Israeli side of the southern Gaza Strip border after crossing through an underground tunnel near the Kerem Shalom border. During the morning attack, two Palestinian militants[19] and two IDF soldiers were killed and three others wounded, aside from Shalit, who, reportedly, suffered a broken left hand and a light shoulder wound after his tank was hit with a Rocket propelled grenade (RPG).[20]

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.[21] The statement came from the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the Popular Resistance Committees (which includes members of Fatah, Islamic Jihad, and Hamas), and a previously unknown group calling itself the Army of Islam.

On 14 June 2007 Israel Army Radio published a report that said that the army had received a specific warning on 24 June 2006, the day before Shalit was kidnapped about a planned abduction. Security forces entered the Gaza Strip on 24 June 2006 and kidnapped two brothers, Osama and Mustafa Abu Muamar who the report described as "Hamas members". The report stated that the brothers were transferred to Israel for interrogation and that the information extracted formed the basis for the specific warning that militants would try to enter Israel through tunnels to kidnap soldiers stationed near Gaza.[22][23]

Rescue attempt

File:Zar'it-Shtula incident poster by David Shankbone.jpg
Posters about the missing soldiers still seen all over Israel in late 2007.
Main article: 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 captured Israeli… This operation can be terminated immediately, conditioned on the release of Gilad Shalit.”[24] On the same day, four Israeli Air Force aircraft flew over Syrian President Bashar Assad's palace in Latakia, as IDF spokesperson stated that Israel views the Syrian leadership as a sponsor of Hamas.[25] Israeli Human rights group B'Tselem has criticised Israel's attacks on a civilian power plant during the June 28 mission as unnecessary and a possible war crime.[26]The Operation was unsuccessful in finding Shalit. (?277?) Palestinian fighters and (??????5?) Israeli soldiers were killed (SOURCE????).

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”.[27]

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.[28]

On the same day, Shalit's 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 incursions into Gaza.[29] Two days later, the captors issued a 24-hour ultimatum for meeting their demands, threatening unspecified consequences if Israel refused.[30] Hours after the ultimatum was issued, Israel officially rejected demands, stating that "there will be no negotiations to release prisoners".[31]

Diplomatic efforts

After Shalit's capture, 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.[32]

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.[33] In October, Egypt was also reported to be negotiating with Hamas on behalf of Israel for Shalit's release.[34]

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.[35] It was the first time since Shalit's capture that any of the factions indicated that his release might be imminent.

File:Pro-Israel-Demo in Berlin 8.JPG
Poster at a demonstration in Berlin calling for Shalit's release

In November 2006, Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal indicated that Shalit was alive and in good health.[36]

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.[37] 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."[38]

On 9 January 2007, Abu Mujahed, a spokesman for the captors, asserted that Shalit “has not been harmed at all ... 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.”[39]

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.[40] 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 Shalit. Israel and Hamas are still negotiating specific prisoners that Hamas wants freed in return for Shalit.[41]

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. [citation needed] On 4 February 2008, it was reported that Hamas had sent Gilad's family a second letter written by him. The handwriting was confirmed to be that of Shalit.[42]

Gilad's father Noam Shalit met with former United States president, Jimmy Carter, during the latter's April 2008 visit to Israel. Carter planned to visit Khaled Meshal of Hamas in Damascus later. Noam Shalit said that the fact that Carter is not considered pro-Israel could be beneficial in securing his son's release.[43] On 9 June 2008, it was reported that Hamas sent Gilad's family a third letter. The group had promised to send them a third letter after mediation from former U.S. president Jimmy Carter. The handwriting was confirmed to be Shalit's.[44]

On 12 August 2008, Hamas noted that they were suspending talks on Shalit's release, demanding a complete lifting of the Israeli siege. The decision has angered Egypt, a mediator for the release of Shalit. Hamas has criticized the Egyptians for linking the opening of the Rafah border crossing with Shalit's release, a condition to which Hamas refuses to agree.[45]

On 20 August 2008, in his briefing to the Security Council, the Under-Secretary-General of the UN appeared to link the decision to release 200 Palestinian prisoners to the case,[46] although the Hamas spokesman saw it as an attempt to strengthen Palestinian internal divisions by releasing only those loyal to the Fatah faction.[47]

Developments in 2009

See also: 2008 Israel-Hamas ceasefire § Gilad Shalit

Hamas' refusal to negotiate about the status of Shalit or even to provide further information about his status strained the temporary Israel-Hamas cease-fire enacted in 2008 and it led partly to the 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict.[48] In January 2009, there were claims from Palestinian sources that Shalit had been injured by shrapnel during the Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip.[49]

On 11 January 2009, Abu Marzuk, Deputy Chief of the Hamas Political Ministry, told the London-based Arabic daily, Al-Hayat that "Shalit may have been wounded, and he may not have been. The subject no longer interests us. We are not interested in his well-being at all, and we are not giving him any special guard since he is as good as a cat or less."[50]

On 22 January 2009, Israel indicated that it wanted to swap Palestinians held in Israeli jails for Shalit as part of a longer-term truce after the three week military operation in Gaza.[51] On 26 January 2009, it was reported that Israel is offering to free 1,000 prisoners in exchange for Shalit.[52] On 16 March 2009, it was reported that a prisoner swap deal to gain Shalit's release was close, and the negotiation team was urged to wrap up the deal. Israel has agreed to release more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, but there were still disagreements over a number of prisoners.[53] The negotiation team however deadlocked over the release of 450 "heavyweight" prisoners. According to a senior source in the PM's Office, "a deal cannot be finalized on such terms, and there's nothing to vote on (in the government session) Tuesday".[54]

In May 2009, President Shimon Peres invited Shalit's family to meet Pope Benedict XVI at the President's Residence in Jerusalem on Monday.[55]

International Law

On 25 June 2007, the Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem issued a statement saying "international humanitarian law absolutely prohibits taking and holding a person by force in order to compel the enemy to meet certain demands, while threatening to harm or kill the person if the demands are not met", and thus holding Gilad Shalit as a hostage to their demands is a war crime.[56] Shalit's denied access to Red Cross (ICRC) visitation was also noted as a violation of international law.[56] Human Rights Watch has also called for Shalit's release and for the ICRC to be granted access to him.[57]

Honorary citizenship

Paris

On 16 December 2008, Shalit was named an honorary citizen of Paris, France after Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoë and the City Council unanimously voted to give the title to Shalit. The group Collective Freedom for Gilad praised the decision, stating "it is with immense joy that we have welcomed the news, which shows how well the French state is mobilized at every level to make it possible for a young man to regain his freedom and family". The French town of Raincy has also named Shalit an honorary citizen and the Grenoble City Hall hung his photo on their building facade the week of 10 December 2008.[58]

Rome

During a public menorah-lighting ceremony on 21 December 2008, Gianni Alemanno, the Mayor of Rome, Italy, stated that a proposal by the Rome Jewish Community President Riccardo Pacifici (the grandson of Riccardo Reuven Pacifici) to make Shalit an honorary citizen of Rome was "an excellent idea." Alemanno added that he wanted to extend the honor "to give a sign of solidarity to the Jewish community."[59] On 16 April 2009, during a formal evening celebrating Israel's 60th anniversary, Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno announced that the city declared Gilad Shalit an honorary citizen. Alemanno said that the Shalit affair does not concern the state of Israel alone, but the whole of humanity.[60]

Miami

On 23 April 2009, Shalit was made an honorary citizen of Miami. The move was announced during a municipality council meeting, which also approved a bill declaring Israel's Independence Day as "Israel Day" in Miami.[61]

New Orleans

The city of New Orleans made Shalit an honorary citizen on June 25th 2009, the third anniversary of his kidnapping.[62]

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gilad Shalit.
  1. ^ a b "Parents of Gilad Shalit received their son's ranks of Staff Sergeant" (Ynet.co.il)
  2. ^ [1] - Haaretz, [2] - UPI: - "[K]idnapped soldier Gilad Shalit"
  3. ^ 'Israel Threatens to Widen Conflict Over Captured Soldier' by Ian Fisher and Steven Erlanger, New York Times
  4. ^ Gilad Shalit's birthday marked
  5. ^ 'Palestinian militants demand release of prisoners' (CNN)
  6. ^ The Ebb And Flow of Hope, Der Spiegel
  7. ^ US Gov, United States House of Representatives
  8. ^ 'Soundbite: Gilad Shalit, hostage Israeli soldier', Reuters
  9. ^ 'Militants issue Israel hostage demands' (CNN)
  10. ^ "Israel seizes Hamas legislators". BBC. 29 June 2006.
    - Cpl Gilad Shalit, 19: First Israeli soldier captured by Palestinians since 1994
    - Amnesty International, the human rights group, called for all hostages to be released [...].
  11. ^ 'Shalit's father expresses hope Hamas is willing to negotiate' By Avi Issacharoff and Jonathan Lis, Haaretz
  12. ^ "French diplomats: Kidnapped soldier holds French citizenship". Israelinsider. 2006-06-26. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
  13. ^ Template:It L'Occidentale, Da tre anni il soldato Shalit è nella mani di Hamas, 25 giugno 2009
  14. ^ Deal’s collapse extends Shalit saga
  15. ^ "Who are the deadly terrorists Israel refuses to release for Shalit?"
  16. ^ "Israel to publish Hamas prisoner list"
  17. ^ "Behind the Headlines: Six months in terrorist captivity". Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 11 January 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-13.
  18. ^ Appel, Yoav; et al. (25 June 2006). "Shalit's dad: 'Hope is all we have left'". Jerusalem Post. {{cite news}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |first= (help)
  19. ^ Q&A: Israeli soldier held in Gaza, BBC News, Monday, 25 June 2007.
  20. ^ Hoffman, Gil; et al. (29 June 2006). "Shalit's health better than first feared". Jerusalem Post. {{cite news}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |first= (help)
  21. ^ "Militants issue Israel hostage demands". CNN. 26 June 2006.
  22. ^ "Gaza fighting impeding Schalit talks". The Jerusalem Post. 2007-06-14. Retrieved 2009-04-11.
  23. ^ "Israel captures pair in Gaza raid". BBC. 24 June 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-01.
  24. ^ Rosenberg, David (28 June 2006). "Israeli Army Enters Gaza to Find Kidnapped Soldier (update 2)". Bloomberg.com.
  25. ^ Hanan Greenberg (2006-06-28). "IAF: Aerial flight over Assad's palace". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2008-01-25.
  26. ^ Act of Vengeance: Israel's Bombing of the Gaza Power Plant and its Effects
  27. ^ "Today in the News". Israel Broadcasting Authority. 29 June 2006.
  28. ^ "Israel: 'Sky will fall' if soldier is harmed". Times of Oman. 5 July 2006.
  29. ^ "FACTBOX—The crisis over Israel's captured soldier". Reuters. 2 July 2006.
  30. ^ "Palestinian militants issue ultimatum to Israel". Reuters. 3 July 2006.
  31. ^ "Minister Ramon: IDF operations in Gaza will be 'far far worse' if Shalit harmed". Haaretz. 3 July 2006.
  32. ^ "Pope's rep tried for Shalit's release". Jerusalem Post. 19 July 2006.
  33. ^ "Proof of life letter from captive Israeli soldier". News Interactive. 15 September 2006. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  34. ^ "Progress on Israel-Palestinian prisoner swap-Hamas" Alternet, 26 October 2006
  35. ^ "Shalit captivity 'to end in days'". al Jazeera. 2006-10-26. Archived from the original on 2006-11-27. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 2006-11-07 suggested (help)
  36. ^ "Hamas predicts new uprising if no peace progress" Asharq Al-Awsat, 25 November 2006
  37. ^ "Senior Hamas official: Shalit alive" The Jerusalem post, 4 January 2007
  38. ^ Khoury, Jack (8 January 2007). "Mother of soldier snatched by Hezbollah slams politicians' inaction". Haaretz. Retrieved 2007-01-13.
  39. ^ Abu Toameh, Khaled (9 January 2007). ""We're ready to keep Shalit for years"". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2007-01-13.
  40. ^ Army of Islam: IDF soldier Shalit held exclusively by Hamas Ha'aretz, 18 January 2007
  41. ^ "Schalit agreement 'all but finished'" The Jerusalem Post, 8 March 2007
  42. ^ "Sources: Hamas gives Israel letter from Gilad Shalit" Ha'aretz, 4 February 2008
  43. ^ Ha'aretz Service and News Agencies (2008-04-13). "Noam Shalit: The fact that Carter isn't pro-Israel may be beneficial". Ha'aretz. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  44. ^ "Shalit's father: Gilad begs for his life in new letter" Ha'aretz, 10 June 2008
  45. ^ "Hamas says not interested in renewing Shalit negotiations" Ha'aretz, Avi Issacharoff and Amos Harel
  46. ^ United Nations Security Council Verbotim Report 5963. S/PV/5963 page 2. Lynn Pascoe Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs 20 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
  47. ^ "Israel to release 200 Palestinian prisoners". The Irish Times. 17 August 2008.
  48. ^ Gaza Truce May Be Revived by Necessity. By Ethan Bronner. The New York Times. 19 December 2008.
  49. ^ Shalit injured by shrapnel
  50. ^ Hamas: Shalit ‘no longer interests us’, Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA), 11 January 2009.
  51. ^ Prisoner swap
  52. ^ New York Daily News report on Shalit
  53. ^ Federman, Josef (2009-03-16). "Israeli envoys race to free captive soldier". Google. Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
  54. ^ "Palestinians: Swap talks deadlocked over 'heavyweight' prisoners". Ynet. 2009-03-17. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
  55. ^ Peres invites Gilad Shalit's family to meet pope
  56. ^ a b "Holding Gilad Shalit as a hostage is a war crime" - B'Tselem press release (25 June 2007)
  57. ^ http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2007/07/04/gazaisraellebanon-release-hostages
  58. ^ "Shalit named citizen of Paris". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 2008-12-17. Retrieved 2009-06-24. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  59. ^ "Rome's mayor favors giving Shalit citizenship". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 2008-12-23. Retrieved 2009-06-24. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  60. ^ Khoury, Jack (2009-03-31). "Noam Shalit: Netanyahu must outdo Olmert's attempts to release Gilad". Haaretz. Retrieved 2009-06-24. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  61. ^ Benhorin, Yitzhak (2009-04-23). "Miami names Shalit honorary citizen". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2009-06-24. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  62. ^ Jun 25, 2009 , Schalit demo held at Defense Ministry [3]
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