Gilad Shalit

Gilad Shalit (Hebrew: גלעד שליט‎, born 28 August 1986) is an Israeli and French national and an IDF soldier who was attacked and kidnapped from Israel on 25 June 2006 by Palestinian Hamas militants in a cross-border raid. Shalit was captured near the Kerem Shalom crossing (in Israel), and has been held as a hostage by Palestine and Hamas and deprived of all International Red Cross visits since his abduction. Palestine has refused requests from the International Committee of the Red Cross to allow the ICRC to visit Shalit, and claims that any such visit could betray the location where Shalit is being held captive. Multiple human rights organizations have stated that the terms and conditions of Shalit's confinement are contrary to international humanitarian law. To date, the only contact between Shalit and the outside world since his capture has been three letters, an audio tape, and a DVD that Israel received in return for releasing 20 Palestinian prisoners. Gilad Shalit holds dual French and Israeli citizenship, a fact that encouraged France and the European Union to be involved in efforts to release him from his captors. In exchange for his release, Palestine is demanding the release of over 1,000 prisoners – Arab Palestinian Convicted Criminals & Terrorists serving prison sentences in Israel – as well as all female and underage Arab Palestinians convicted and serving sentences. A major sticking point in negotiations between the sides for the release of Shalit is Palestine's insistence on the release of Marwan Bargouti, currently serving five life sentences in Israel for murder. The United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, which released a report in September 2009, has also called for Shalit to be released. In its May 27, 2011 Deauville Declaration, the G8 demanded the release of Gilad Shalit.

Shalit was born on 28 August 1986 in Nahariya, Israel, to Noam and Aviva Shalit, along with an older brother and a younger sister, and was raised from the age of two in Mitzpe Hila in the Western Galilee. He graduated with distinction from Manor Kabri High School. He holds dual Israeli and French citizenship.

[This Content Authorized by Free Gilad Shalit and Gilad Shalit. For more information, contact Daniel McCaughan, J.D., Director - Pilgrim's Promise, LLC, at www.pilgrimspromise.com].