Gilad Shalit

Gilad Shalit (, born 28 August 1986) is an Israeli soldier who was captured on 25 June 2006 by Palestinian militants in a cross-border raid. He was abducted - Haaretz, - UPI: - "[K]idnapped soldier Gilad Shalit" through the Kerem Shalom crossing (in Israel), and has been held as a prisoner in the Gaza Strip by Hamas since. 
Shalit, 19 years old at the time of his capture, held the rank of corporal in the IDF's Armor Corps at the time of his abduction, but has since been promoted to staff sergeant.
He was the first Israeli soldier captured'Israel Threatens to Widen Conflict Over Captured Soldier' by Ian Fisher and Steven Erlanger, New York Times 'Militants issue Israel hostage demands' (CNN) by Palestinian militants since Nachshon Wachsman in 1994. - 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 [...]. Shalit holds French citizenship, a fact that encouraged France and the European Union to be involved to some extent in efforts to release him. He also received Italian citizenship after his abduction. L'Occidentale, Da tre anni il soldato Shalit è nella mani di Hamas, 25 giugno 2009Gilad Shalit's birthday marked'Palestinian militants demand release of prisoners' (CNN)The Ebb And Flow of Hope, Der SpiegelUS Gov, United States House of Representatives'Soundbite: Gilad Shalit, hostage Israeli soldier', Reuters 
Hamas has refused requests from the International Committee of the Red Cross to allow the ICRC to visit Shalit. Several human rights organizations have stated that the terms and conditions of Shalit's detention are contrary to international humanitarian law. In exchange for his release, Hamas is demanding the release of 1,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, including many convicted of deadly terrorist attacks against Israelis.Deal’s collapse extends Shalit saga"Who are the deadly terrorists Israel refuses to release for Shalit?""Israel to publish Hamas prisoner list" The United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, which released a report in September 2009, called for Shalit to be released.
Israeli analyst Dan Schueftan has called the possible swap deal "the greatest significant victory for terrorism that Israel has made possible".Israeli Warplanes Bomb Gaza Tunnels
==Personal life==
Shalit was born on 28 August 1986 in Nahariya, Israel, and 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." He holds dual Israeli and French citizenship (his father Noam Shalit's family originated in France).
==Capture==
Early on Sunday morning, 25 June 2006, Shalit was captured by Palestinian militants who ambushed 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 attack, two Palestinian militantsQ&A: Israeli soldier held in Gaza, BBC News, Monday, 25 June 2007. 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).
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. 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 captured, about a planned abduction. According to the report, Israeli security forces entered the Gaza Strip on 24 June 2006 and captured two brothers described as Hamas members. The report said 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 capture soldiers stationed near Gaza.
Shalit became the first Israeli soldier captured by Palestinian forces since Nachshon Wachsman in 1994. - 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 [...]. His abduction'Shalit's father expresses hope Hamas is willing to negotiate' By Avi Issacharoff and Jonathan Lis, Haaretz and the following cross-border raid by Hezbollah, resulting in the abductions of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev into Lebanon, occurred prior to the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon during summer 2006.
Hamas high-ranking commander Abu Jibril Shimali, whom Israel considers responsible for coordinating the capture, was killed during the violent clashes between Hamas and the al-Qaida-affiliated Jund Ansar Allah organization in Gaza in August 2009.Hamas: Head of Al-Qaida affiliate killed in Gaza, Haaretz, 18 August 2009
==Rescue attempt==
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.” On the same day, four Israeli Air Force aircraft flew over Syrian President Bashar Assad's palace in Latakia, as an IDF spokesperson said that Israel views the Syrian leadership as a sponsor of Hamas. Israeli Human rights group B'Tselem has criticised Israel's attacks on a civilian power plant during the 28 June mission as unnecessary and a possible war crime.Act of Vengeance: Israel's Bombing of the Gaza Power Plant and its Effects The operation did not succeed in finding Shalit. 277 Palestinians and 5 Israeli soldiers were killed. 
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 said 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 said: “we are not convinced he is being held in southern Gaza… [only] that he is being held in Gaza”.
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.
On the same day, Shalit's captors issued another demand to the Israelis, demanding that Israel release an additional 1,000 Palestinian prisoners (in addition to all female and young prisoners, as previously demanded) and end Israel's incursions into Gaza. Two days later, the captors issued a 24-hour ultimatum for meeting their demands, threatening unspecified consequences if Israel refused. Hours after the ultimatum was issued, Israel officially rejected the demands, stating that: "there will be no negotiations to release prisoners".
==Diplomatic efforts==
After Shalit's capture, the Papal Nuncio to Israel, Archbishop Antonio Franco, made an unsuccessful attempt to secure Shalit's release via the Catholic Church's Gaza-based parish.
In September 2006, Egyptian mediators received a letter written by Shalit in which he wrote that he was alive and well. The handwriting was confirmed to be that of Shalit. In October, Egypt was also reported to be negotiating with Hamas on behalf of Israel for Shalit's release."Progress on Israel-Palestinian prisoner swap-Hamas" Alternet, 26 October 2006
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 Shalit's release. The PRC did not provide details, but said that the Egyptian proposal would include the release of Palestinians held by Israel. It was the first time since Shalit's capture that any of the factions indicated that his release might be imminent.
thumb|right|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."Hamas predicts new uprising if no peace progress" Asharq Al-Awsat, 25 November 2006
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.”
On 17 January 2007, one of the captor groups, the Army of Islam headed by Mumtaz Dormush, claimed that Shalit was held exclusively by Hamas. Army of Islam: IDF soldier Shalit held exclusively by Hamas Ha'aretz, 18 January 2007 On 8 March 2007,
The Jerusalem Post reported that an agreement had been reached with Hamas over the number of prisoners Israel would release in return for Shalit. Israel and Hamas were still negotiating specific prisoners that Hamas wanted freed in return for Shalit."Schalit agreement 'all but finished'" The Jerusalem Post, 8 March 2007
On 7 April 2007, it was reported that Shalit's captors had transferred to Israel, through Egyptian mediators, a list of Palestinian prisoners they wanted freed. The list included approximately 1,300 names, some of which were high-ranking Fatah members. On 4 February 2008, it was reported that Hamas had sent Shalit's family a second letter written by him. The handwriting was confirmed to be that of Shalit."Sources: Hamas gives Israel letter from Gilad Shalit" Ha'aretz, 4 February 2008
On 25 June 2007, a year after Shalit's abduction, the military wing of Hamas, Iz a-Din al-Qassam, released an audio tape in 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 said that his medical condition was deteriorating, and that he required immediate and lengthy hospitalization. 
Gilad's father Noam Shalit met with former United States President Jimmy Carter during Carter'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. On 9 June 2008, it was reported that Hamas sent Shalit's family a third letter. The group had promised to send them a third letter after mediation from Carter. The handwriting was confirmed to be Shalit's."Shalit's father: Gilad begs for his life in new letter" Ha'aretz, 10 June 2008
On 12 August 2008, Hamas said that it was suspending talks on Shalit's release, demanding a complete lifting of the Israeli siege. The decision angered Egypt, a mediator for Shalit's release. Hamas criticized the Egyptians for linking the opening of the Rafah border crossing with Shalit's release, a condition to which Hamas refuses to agree."Hamas says not interested in renewing Shalit negotiations"
Ha'aretz, Avi Issacharoff and Amos Harel
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, though the Hamas spokesman saw it as an attempt to strengthen Palestinian internal divisions by releasing only those loyal to the Fatah faction.
==Israeli society perceptions and activities related to Gilad Shalit==
Israeli public is divided regarding the issue of negotiating the release of Shalit in exchange for a large number of Palestinians prisoners jailed in Israel. There are two opposing camps. 
One camp supports the release of Shalit on Hamas's conditions. According to the Dahaf Polling Institute, 69 percent of Israelis favors this deal, which would include the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and the deportation of some of them outside the territory of the Palestinian National AuthorityPrisoners Dilemma, JPost, 25 March 2009 or restricting them to Gaza.
A second camp says that Shalit should be released, but not on Hamas's conditions. They argue that the correct approach is to protect Israelis if the prisoners are released. According to the Dahaf Polling Institute, 22 percent of Israelis support are in this camp. 
Daniel Bar-Tal, a professor at Tel Aviv University, says "Here we see the basic dilemmas between the individual and the collective, and we see victim pitted against victim. Gilad Shalit is a victim who was violently kidnapped, in a way that Israelis do not consider to be a normative means of struggle. Therefore, one side says, he should be returned at any price. But the families of those killed in terrorist attacks and the people who were wounded in those attacks are victims, too, and they say that no price should be paid to the murderers. And it is truly a dilemma, because no side is right, and no side is wrong." Others believe that the disagreement among Israelis represents rifts and changes within Israeli society. Attorney Dalia Gavriely-Nur, a lecturer at Bar-Ilan University, says that the camp opposing the prisoners deal is holding onto a view of collectivist society, in which the individual was expected to sacrifice himself for the good of society; the camp supporting the prisoner release is expressing, however, a high value on the sanctity of life, that symbolizes a shift to a more privatized society.
left|thumbnail|Gilad Still Lives; February 2009
On the evening of Shalit's 23rd birthday, on 28 August 2009, thousands of people attended a prayer rally for Gilad at the Western Wall, and dozens of activists protested outside Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv, slamming Defense Minister Ehud Barak and criticizing IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi.http://[www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1251145136945&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Shalit family marks Gilad's 23rd b'day] JPost, 28 August 2009
Jewish Internet Defense Force (JIDF) organized in August 2009 a pro-Shalit campaign on the social networking site Twitter. Twitter users drove Shalit's name to the second-highest trend on the day of his 23rd birthday. Tweets for Shalit ranged from the demand "Free Shalit" to requests for international supervision of the case.'Tweet4Schalit' campaign reaches No. 2 spot in Twitter, JPost, 27 August 2009
In several incidents during 2009, the leaders of the campaign to free Shalit demonstrated at the prisons where Palestinian detainees are held, preventing visits by Palestinian prisoners' families.Haaretz. "Return Gilad Shalit, but not at any price." by Gideon Levy. 30 Aug. 2009. Retrieved: 30 August 2009Israelis demand Red Cross visit Shalit, UPI, 25 August 2009Protesters block security prisoners' visits at Sharon Prison, YNET, 23 March 2009 One such demonstration at the Erez crossing on the Gaza border blocked the passage of food and medicine to the Gaza Strip.Haaretz. "Return Gilad Shalit, but not at any price." by Gideon Levy. 30 Aug. 2009. Retrieved: 30 August 2009.
Israel says it will not ease its blockade of Gaza until Shalit is freed. The captured soldier's long plight has become a festering sore in Israel, with large, tearful rallies on his birthdays and frequent media appearances by his father. Reflecting wide support for the cause, one Israeli TV anchor ends his daily newscast by mournfully reciting how many days the soldier has been held captive. Lately, however, Israeli opponents of such a deal have been speaking out, warning that releasing top Palestinian militants could result in the deaths of many Israelis in renewed attacks — as has happened after previous exchanges,Hamas, Israel deal: 20 prisoners for soldier video By Mark Lavie (AP) as well as increased Palestinian motivation to kidnap more soldiers in the future.
==Developments and notable events in 2008-09==
In early December 2008, during a Hamas rally in Gaza City to mark 21 years since its founding, a Hamas member masquerading as Shalit was paraded by Hamas militiamen.Mock-Schalit paraded in Hamas rally, Jerusalem Post, 14 Dec 2008 
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 June 2008.Gaza Truce May Be Revived by Necessity. By Ethan Bronner. The New York Times. 19 December 2008. 
At the start of the Gaza War, Hamas claimed that Shalit had been wounded by Israeli fire.Psychological Tricks to Demoralize the Enemy, Spiegel, Jan.16, 2009 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."Hamas: Shalit ‘no longer interests us’, Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA), 11 January 2009.
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.Prisoner swap On 26 January 2009, it was reported that Israel was offering to free 1,000 prisoners in exchange for Shalit.New York Daily News report on Shalit 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 agreed to release more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, but there were still disagreements over the number of prisoners. 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".
In May 2009, President Shimon Peres invited Shalit's family to meet Pope Benedict XVI at the President's residence in Jerusalem.Peres invites Gilad Shalit's family to meet pope
In June 2009, Israeli human rights group B'Tselem published in the Palestinian newspaper Al-Quds in the West Bank an ad, calling on Hamas to release Shalit "immediately and unconditionally", but the Gaza-based daily 'Palestine' refused to print it, according to the B'Tselem spokeswoman.B'Tselem call to free Shalit banned in Gaza , Ynet, 25 June 2009 
In July 2009, Hamas TV in Gaza broadcast a short animated movie that depicted Shalit chained to a jail cell wall, pleading with a Palestinian boy to be set free. The boy refuses, saying he has relatives in Israeli prisons.Hamas taunts Israel with Gilad Shalit cartoon, Haaretz, 7 July 2009
In July 2009, Noam Shalit, Gilad's father, testified before the Goldstone Committee, which was investigating on behalf of the United Nations illegal conduct by combatants during Gaza War. Shalit told the committee that his son has lived without human rights for three years, and that no one, including the Red Cross, knows what happened to him or paid him a visit.Noam Shalit to UN: My son's abduction was a war crime, Haaretz, 7 July 2009
The Jerusalem Post reported that they obtained photographs showing children at the graduation ceremony of a Hamas-run summer camp, reenacting Shalit's abduction.Gaza campers stage 'Shalit abduction' at final ceremony JPost, 27 July 2009 The photos were reported to show Osama Mazini, a senior Hamas political official in charge of the Shalit negotiations with Israel, attending the play.Children stage Shalit kidnapping, UPI, 27 July 2009
On 30 September 2009, Israel announced that it would release 20 female Palestinian detainees and prisoners in exchange for a video proving Shalit was still alive.
The trade took place successfully on 2 October. 19 of the 20 Palestinian captives were released; the last one was released one day later. The video, the only contact from Shalit other than three letters written by him and an audio tape released in June 2007, was released to the public at around 4:00 in the afternoon on Israeli television. In the video, Shalit seems healthy and sound. He addresses Netanyahu and his parents, and reminisces about times he spent with his family. He shows a newspaper dated Monday, 14 September 2009.
==International law==
Since 2006, the Red Cross (ICRC) has repeatedly asked Hamas to allow visits by the ICRC to ascertain Shalit's conditions of detention and treatment, but Hamas refused the requests. An ICRC representative said that under international humanitarian law Shalit is entitled to regular and unconditional contacts with his family.Gaza: ICRC urges Hamas to allow captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit regular contact with his family, ICRC, 18-06-2009
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 Shalit as a hostage to their demands is a war crime."Holding Gilad Shalit as a hostage is a war crime" - B'Tselem press release (25 June 2007) B'Tselem also noted that denying access to ICRC visitations is also a violation of international law. Israeli NGO Monitor said that Shalit's abductors breach several provisions of the Third Geneva Convention, e.g., the right to humane treatment (Art. 13); the right to have knowledge of a POW's location (Art. 23); and the right to unfettered access to the Red Cross (Art. 126). Human Rights Watch has also stated that Hamas authorities are obligated by the laws of war to allow Shalit to correspond with his family, and noted that three letters and a voice recording cannot be counted as regular correspondence. HRW has also called to receive visits from the ICRC and said that prolonged incommunicado detention of Shalit is cruel and inhumane and may amount to torture.Gaza: Allow Shalit Contact With Family, (and) with International Red Cross, Human Rights Watch, 24 June 2009
A U.N. fact-finding mission headed by Judge Richard Goldstone assigned to investigate the Gaza War, which released its report in September 2009, called for Shalit to be released.http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/15/un-gaza-war-israel-hamas "Inquiry into Gaza conflict singles out Israeli policy towards Palestinians for most serious condemnation"
==Honorary citizenships==
===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.
===Rome===
During a public menorah-lighting ceremony on 21 December 2008, Gianni Alemanno, the Mayor of Rome, Italy, said that a proposal by 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." On 16 April 2009, during a formal evening celebrating Israel's 60th anniversary, Alemanno announced that the city declared Shalit an honorary citizen. Alemanno said that the Shalit affair does not concern the State of Israel alone, but the whole of humanity. On 1 July 2009, Alemanno conferred the honor to Shalit at a ceremony and presented a parchment declaration to Shalit's father, Noam. Alemanno said that making Shalit an honorary citizen was "a gesture of high symbolic value, with which Roma chooses to salute the values of life, of solidarity and of respect for the human rights." He added, "You cannot win using violence, kidnapping and ransom."Shalit named honorary Roman citizen, Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA), 2 July 2009.
===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.
===New Orleans===
The city of New Orleans made Shalit an honorary citizen on 25 June 2009, the third anniversary of his capture. 25 Jun 2009 , 
Schalit demo held at Defense Ministry 
==See also==
*Israeli MIAs
==References==
==External links==
*gilad.org – Official site maintained by Shalit's family
*facebook.com/giladshalit Official Facebook page
*Shalomlife.com – Elder Shalit blames US for blocking bargaining talks.
*/ 
*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 25 June 2007
*Gilad Watch Live clock counting up the amount of time Gilad Shalit has been in captivity
*A taped video of Gilad Shalit speaking in Hebrew (English subtitles added) which was broadcast on Israeli Television on 2 October 2009
Category:1986 births
Category:2006 Israel–Gaza conflict
Category:Israeli Jews
Category:French Jews
Category:Israeli soldiers
Category:Missing in action
Category:Kidnappings
Category:Possibly living people
Category:Israeli people taken hostage
Category:Israeli–Palestinian conflict
Category:Living people
ar:جلعاد شاليط
cs:Gilad Šalit
de:Gilad Schalit
es:Gilad Shalit
eo:Gilad Ŝalit
fa:گیلعاد شلیط
fr:Gilad Shalit
id:Gilad Shalit
it:Gilad Shalit
he:גלעד שליט
ms:Gilad Shalit
nl:Gilad Shalit
ja:ギルアド・シャリート
no:Gilad Shalit
pl:Gilad Szalit
pt:Gilad Shalit
ru:Шалит, Гилад
fi:Gilad Shalit
sv:Gilad Shalit
uk:Ґілад Шаліт
yi:גלעד שליט