Gilad Shalit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article is about a person involved in a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses. |
| Gilad Shalit [1] | |
|---|---|
| 28 August 1986 – | |
 Gilad Shalit (image courtesy of the Shalit family) |
|
| Place of birth | Mitzpe Hila, Israel |
| Allegiance | Israel |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit | Armor Corps |
| Battles/wars | Operation Summer Rains |
Cpl. Gilad Shalit (Hebrew: גלעד שליט) (b. 28 August 1986) is an Israeli soldier who was abducted by Palestinian militants on 25 June 2006. [2] The first Israeli soldier captured by Palestinians since Nachson Wachsman in 1994[1], he is one of three Israeli soldiers to have been captured during the Operation Summer Rains and Second Lebanon War conflicts of summer 2006 (the other two being Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev).
Contents |
[edit] 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]
[edit] Capture
Early on Sunday morning, 25 June 2006, Shalit was abducted by Palestinian militants who attacked an Israeli army post on 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, not including 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.
[edit] 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 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, the 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]
[edit] 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.[3]
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.[4] It was the first time since Shalit’s capture 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.[5] Later that month, Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal also indicated that Shalit was in good health.[6]
On 6 December 2006, Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak stated that a prisoner swap deal for Gilad Shalit was in its final stages and that he could be freed soon.[7]
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.[8] 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 captured 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.[9]
[edit] References
- ^ "Israeli forces enter north Gaza", BBC, 29 June 2006.
- ^ Behind the Headlines: Six months in terrorist captivity. Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (11 January 2007). Retrieved on 2007-01-13.
- ^ Appel, Yoav, et al.. "Shalit’s dad: ‘Hope is all we have left’", Jerusalem Post, 25 June 2006.
- ^ Hoffman, Gil, et al.. "Shalit’s health better than first feared", Jerusalem Post, 29 June 2006.
- ^ "Militants issue Israel hostage demands", CNN, 26 June 2006.
- ^ Rosenberg, David. "Israeli Army Enters Gaza to Find Kidnapped Soldier (update 2)", Bloomberg.com, 28 June 2006.
- ^ "Today in the News", Israel Broadcasting Authority, 29 June 2006.
- ^ "Israel: ‘Sky will fall’ if soldier is harmed", Times of Oman, 5 July 2006.
- ^ "FACTBOX—The crisis over Israel’s captured soldier", Reuters, 2 July 2006.
- ^ "Palestinian militants issue ultimatum to Israel", Reuters, 3 July 2006.
- ^ "Minister Ramon: IDF operations in Gaza will be ‘far far worse’ if Shalit harmed", Haaretz, 3 July 2006.
- ^ "Pope’s rep tried for Shalit’s release", Jerusalem Post, 19 July 2006.
- ^ "Proof of life letter from captive Israeli soldier", News Interactive, 15 September 2006.
- ^ Khoury, Jack. "Mother of soldier snatched by Hezbollah slams politicians’ inaction", Haaretz, 8 January 2007. Retrieved on 2007-01-13.
- ^ Abu Toameh, Khaled. "‘We’re ready to keep Shalit for years’", Jerusalem Post, 9 January 2007. Retrieved on 2007-01-13.
- ^ Haaretz: Army of Islam: IDF soldier Shalit held exclusively by Hamas, January 18, 2007
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Banim.org – Official site for the 2006 MIAs (Shalit, Goldwasser, Regev)
- (Hebrew)/(English) Prayer for Gilad’s safe returnPDF (182 KiB)
- Gaza Kidnapping of Israeli Soldier – News and updates related to Gilad Shalit
