Gaza – Hamas has rejected the latest request from the International Red Cross to visit abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, Israel Radio reported on Wednesday.
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Hamas denied the request for fear that the visit might lead Israel to try to free Shalit in a military operation, according to Hamas lawmaker Yehia Moussa, who told a Hamas newspaper that the Red Cross did not take the military reality in the Middle East into account when it made the request.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said it has approached Hamas a number of times to allow its representatives to visit the kidnapped soldier in Gaza, only to be denied time after time.
“One of our main achievements is that we have been able to visit nearly everyone detained in connection to this conflict, with the exception of Gilad Shalit,” Pierre Dorbes, deputy head of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Israel and the Occupied Territories, told Haaretz on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Shalit’s grandfather, Zvi Shalit, met with Prime Minister Netanyahu in Jerusalem Tuesday. Following the meeting, which was also attended by top Shalit negotiator Haggai Hadas as well as Netanyahu’s military secretary, Brig. Gen. Yohanan Locker, the 85-year-old told Haaretz that the meeting was strained and fraught with disagreements.
The elder Shalit had to wait for three hours before Netanyahu was able to see him, as the prime minister’s schedule shifted around the budget votes.
“I spoke [to Netanyahu] as a human being and as a grandfather who wants to see his grandson return home after four years [in captivity]. I told Netanyahu the conduct over this matter was not satisfactory and he said that yes, it was,” he added.
Although Netanyahu did not issue a statement about the content of the meeting, nor did he allow photographers to be present, his office did comment Tuesday on the three-hour delay in the meeting.
Next week, the Shalits are hoping to join thousands of supporters, including supermodel Bar Refaeli and dozens of other local celebrities, on a cross-country march for Gilad’s release.
The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra is holding a special concert near the Gaza border — conducted by renowned conductor Zubin Mehta — to call for Shalit’s release.
Shalit’s parents have pledged to camp outside the prime minister’s residence until their son is freed from captivity.
Why don’t Chareidim rally/Protest for the release of Gilad Shalit?
Why don’t the Gedolim institute a day of Tehilim for Gilad Shalit??
And the human rights groups say what?
Yeah where r the protests now? My oh my what a bunch of interesting people we have among us
I can’t see what protests would help, if hamas refuse to release him. Protests would only show the hamas reshoim that it’s hurting us and that is exactly what they want. Of course they would probably release him if we let all the terrorists out of jail, or something else suicidal of that nature, but that’s of no use. Many seem to blame the government for Shalit still being there. I would appreciate some explanation why it is seen as their fault.
If Gilad is a prisoner of war, the world should not be protesting the blockage. If he’s just a kidnapping victim, why does Israel owe Gaza anything at all? They should shut off all land-based aid and force everything (including water) to be provided by ship. After all, Israel should have a right to close its own borders.
to #1 : because charedism and judaism are two different religions. in their book shalit is not even a jew.
Shut off the electricity, stop the water, until the red cross sees Gilad Shalit!! Let them suffe r a little!!
#8 -alex- that is ONE BIG LIE.
I agree with #10 & #11 . any other country would stop all imports inc. water
They don’t protest because they don’t care.
Wth are you talking about…
I wonder what would happen if a Red Cross convoy crossed into Gaza under a banner of humanitarianism to visit Gilad? I’m sure hamas y’s would be very gracious & welcome them in, you think?
The almost mute response from the charedi sector regarding our holy brother Gilad ben Aviva is precisely why so many people including myself are turned off by charedi judaism. I look forward to the day when true torah Judaism returns with the advent of Moshiach, whereby every yid regardless of what type of background or hashkofa they follow will be included in our tefilos in times of trouble.
P.S would it have been too much to ask for those leading the mass teffilos in the charedi communities around the world for Rabashkan to add Gilad Shalit’s name.