Stand for Israel

The Red Cross has attempted to persuade the head of the Hamas terrorist group, Khaled Mashaal, to release a new sign of life from captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. The last time Hamas, which holds Shalit captive, allowed any communication from him was in 2009, when they released a video with a scripted letter read by Gilad.

Gilad has been held by Hamas for five years. His condition is unknown and since his capture he has not received a single visit from the Red Cross. The Shalit family hopes to get some kind of sign that Gilad is still alive before the Passover holiday by pressuring the Red Cross to demand this sign from Hamas. Gilad’s grandfather has threatened to blockade the Red Cross’s Tel-Aviv office, and has demanded that the Red Cross refrain from visiting Palestinian soldiers in Israeli prisons until Hamas produces a sign that Gilad is still alive.

In contrast to Gilad’s situation, Hamas convicts serving time in Israeli prisons have access to Palestinian newspapers, can make phone calls and receive and send out letters, and receive visits from their families. In fact, Israel allows Hamas prisoners privileges that go beyond what it is obliged to provide enemy combatants under the Geneva Conventions.

Israeli politicians have debated whether they should cut some of the privileges granted to Hamas prisoners until Hamas improves Gilad Shalit’s situation and allows for Red Cross visits. It is absurd that while Gilad sits in captivity without any contact with the outside world, Hamas prisoners enjoy full rights as prisoners in Israel — the only state in the Middle East which grants such rights.

The Shalit family should continue to pressure the Red Cross, and other governing bodies, such as the U.N., the E.U., and the Israeli and U.S. governments — and friends of Israel everywhere – should back their efforts. Hamas’ flagrant abuse of Gilad Shalit’s basic human rights should be receiving a lot more international attention than it has. It will take a concerted effort to shine a spotlight on Gilad’s situation and Hamas’ desecration of human rights and international law.