Gilad Shalit

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"Shalit" redirects here. For other uses, see Shalit (disambiguation).
Gilad Shalit
Born August 28, 1986 (1986-08-28) (age 23)
Gilad Shalit.jpeg
Gilad Shalit (image courtesy of the Shalit family)
Place of birth Nahariya, Israel
Allegiance Israel
Rank Staff Sergeant[1]
Unit Armor Corps
Battles/wars Operation 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. He was abducted[3] through the Kerem Shalom crossing (in Israel) and has been held hostage in the Gaza Strip by Hamas since. 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[4] by Palestinian militants since Nachshon Wachsman in 1994.[5] 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.[6] Recently, he also received Italian citizenship.[7]

Shalit is known to be alive.[8][9][10][11][12][13] The Hamas authorities have refused requests from the Red Cross (ICRC) to allow visits by the ICRC. 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 attacks against Israelis.[6][14][15][16]

Contents

[edit] 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]

[edit] 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 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 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 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 capture soldiers stationed near Gaza.[22][23]

Shalit became the first Israeli soldier captured[24] by Palestinian forces since Nachshon Wachsman in 1994.[25] His abduction[26] 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.

Hamas high-ranking commander, Abu Jibril Shimali, whom Israel consider responsible for coordinating the capture, was killed during the violent clashes between Hamas and al-Qaida-affiliated Jund Ansar Allah organization in Gaza in August 2009.[27]

[edit] Rescue attempt

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.”[28] On the same day, four Israeli Air Force aircraft flew over Syrian President Bashar Assad's palace in Latakia, as an IDF spokesperson stated that Israel views the Syrian leadership as a sponsor of Hamas.[29] 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.[30] The Operation was unsuccessful in finding Shalit. 277 Palestinians and 5 Israeli soldiers were killed.[citation needed]

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”.[31]

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.[32]

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.[33] Two days later, the captors issued a 24-hour ultimatum for meeting their demands, threatening unspecified consequences if Israel refused.[34] Hours after the ultimatum was issued, Israel officially rejected demands, stating that "there will be no negotiations to release prisoners".[35]

[edit] 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.[36]

In September 2006, Egyptian mediators received a letter written by Shalit in which he stated that he was alive and well. The handwriting was confirmed to be that of Cpl. Shalit.[37] In October, Egypt was also reported to be negotiating with Hamas on behalf of Israel for Shalit's release.[38]

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

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.[40]

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.[41] 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."[42]

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.”[43]

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.[44] 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.[45]

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 Shalit's family a second letter written by him. The handwriting was confirmed to be that of Shalit.[46]

On June 25, 2007, a year after Shalit's abduction, the military wing of Hamas, Iz a-Din al-Qassam, released an 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 stated that his medical condition is deteriorating and that he required immediate and lengthy hospitalization.

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.[47] 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 former U.S. president Jimmy Carter. The handwriting was confirmed to be Shalit's.[48]

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.[49]

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,[50] although the Hamas spokesman saw it as an attempt to strengthen Palestinian internal divisions by releasing only those loyal to the Fatah faction.[51]

[edit] Israeli society perceptions and activities related to Gilad Shalit

Israeli public is divided regarding the issue of negotiating the release of Gilad Shalit in exchange of a large number of Palestinians prisoners jailed in Israel. There are can be distinguished two opposing camps.

One camp stands for the release of Shalit on Hamas conditions. According to the Dahaf Polling Institute, 69 percent of Israelis favors this deal that would include the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and the deportation of some of them outside the territory of the Palestinian National Authority.[52]

Another camp defends that Shalid should be released, but not on Hamas' conditions. They argue that the right decision on this issue should be seen from the point of protecting Israelis if the prisoners are released. According to the Dahaf Polling Institute, 22 percent of public in Israel support the second camp.[52]

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." [52] Others believe that the disagreements among the Israeli public represent 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 on 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 shift to a more privatized society.[52]

On the evening of Shalit's 23rd birthday, marked 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.[53]

Jewish Internet Defense Force (JIDF) organized in August 2009 pro-Shalit campaign on the social networking site Twitter. Twitter users drove Schalit's name to the second highest trend on the day of his 23rd birthday. Tweets for Shalit ranged from the demand "Free Schalit" to requests for international supervision of the case.[54]

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.[55][56][57] One similar demonstration at the Erez crossing on the Gaza border resulted in blocking the passage of food and medicine to the Gaza Strip.[58]

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.[59]

[edit] Developments and notable events in 2008-2009

See also: 2008 Israel-Hamas ceasefire: Gilad Shalit and Gaza War

In early December 2008, during Hamas rally in Gaza City to mark 21 years since its founding, a Hamas member masquerading as Gilad Shalit was led by Hamas militiamen.[60]

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.[61]

At the start of the Gaza War, Hamas claimed that Shalit had been wounded by Israeli fire.[62] 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."[63]

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.[64] On 26 January 2009, it was reported that Israel is offering to free 1,000 prisoners in exchange for Shalit.[65] 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.[66] 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".[67]

In May 2009, President Shimon Peres invited Shalit's family to meet Pope Benedict XVI at the President's Residence in Jerusalem.[68]

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.[69]

In July 2009, Hamas TV in Gaza broadcasted a short animated movie that depicts 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.[70]

In July 2009, Noam Shalit, the father of the soldier held by Hamas, testified before the Goldstone Committee, which is investigating illegal conduct by combatants during Gaza War on behalf of the United Nations. 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.[71]

The Jerusalem Post reported that they obtained photographs, showing children at the graduation ceremony of a Hamas run summer camp, reenacting the abduction of Shalit.[72] The photos received by the Jerusalem Post were reported to show Osama Mazini, a senior Hamas political official in charge of the negotiations with Israel regarding Shalit, attending the play.[73]

On September 30, 2009, Israel announced that it would release 20 female Palestinian detainees and prisoners in exchange for a video proving Shalit is still alive. [74]

The trade took place successfully on Friday, October 2. 19 of the 20 Palestinian captives were released, the last one to be released on Sunday, at the end of her sentence. 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 alert. He addresses Netanyahu and his parents and reminisces about times he spent with his family. He shows a newspaper dated Monday, September 14, 2009. [75]

[edit] International law

Since 2006, the Red Cross (ICRC) has repeatedly asked Hamas to allow visits by the ICRC to ascertain Gilad Shalit's conditions of detention and treatment, but those requests were refused. ICRC representative stated that under international humanitarian law Gilad Shalit is entitled to the regular and unconditional contacts with his family.[76] 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.[77] B'Tselem also notes that denying access to ICRC visitations is also a violation of international law.[77] 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); the right to unfettered access to the Red Cross (Art. 126).[78] 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 can not 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.[79]

[edit] Honorary citizenships

[edit] 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.[80]

[edit] 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."[81] 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.[82] On July 1, 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, which with 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."[83]

[edit] 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.[84]

[edit] New Orleans

The city of New Orleans made Shalit an honorary citizen on June 25 2009, the third anniversary of his kidnapping.[85]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

Search Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Gilad Shalit
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  64. ^ Prisoner swap
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  72. ^ Gaza campers stage 'Schalit abduction' at final ceremony JPost, 27 July, 2009
  73. ^ Children stage Shalit kidnapping, UPI, 27 July, 2009
  74. ^ Bousso, Ron (Sept 30 2009). "Israel to free prisoners for info on captured soldier". AFP. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i61SWqjsjpGEomY7wswd4e_VAbGA. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 
  75. ^ "Trade for Shalit info completed". October 20 2009. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1254393083700&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull. Retrieved 2009-10-2. 
  76. ^ Gaza: ICRC urges Hamas to allow captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit regular contact with his family, ICRC, 18-06-2009
  77. ^ a b "Holding Gilad Shalit as a hostage is a war crime" - B'Tselem press release (25 June 2007)
  78. ^ "Exploitation of International Law". NGO Monitor. 2009-01-21. http://www.ngo-monitor.org/article/the_ngo_front_exploitation_of_international_law. 
  79. ^ Gaza: Allow Shalit Contact With Family, International Red Cross, HRW, June 24, 2009
  80. ^ "Shalit named citizen of Paris". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 2008-12-17. http://jta.org/news/article/2008/12/17/1001620/shalit-names-citizen-of-paris. Retrieved 2009-06-24. 
  81. ^ "Rome's mayor favors giving Shalit citizenship". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 2008-12-23. http://jta.org/news/article/2008/12/23/1001767/romes-mayor-favors-giving-shalit-citizenship. Retrieved 2009-06-24. 
  82. ^ Khoury, Jack (2009-03-31). "Noam Shalit: Netanyahu must outdo Olmert's attempts to release Gilad". Haaretz. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1075214.html. Retrieved 2009-06-24. 
  83. ^ Shalit named honorary Roman citizen, Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA), July 2, 2009.
  84. ^ Benhorin, Yitzhak (2009-04-23). "Miami names Shalit honorary citizen". Ynetnews. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3705906,00.html. Retrieved 2009-06-24. 
  85. ^ Jun 25, 2009 , Schalit demo held at Defense Ministry [5]
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[edit] External links

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