VIDEO - Gilad Shalit's family heard his voice Monday – the first proof of life they and the rest of Israel hadof the soldier since he was kidnapped a year ago.
"We hope the release of the tape means Hamas isfinally willing to go ahead with the prisoner exchange," said Noan Shalit, Gilad's father.
"I hope this isn't some media spin aimed at diverting attention away from Sharm (el-Sheikh).
"… the tape raises some questions and we have to seek some expert opinion, like Gilad saying he needs medical attention on the one hand, and the (Hamas) spokesman saying he's doing fine," he added.
"There are some discrepancies we have to settle. The last year has seen many ups and downs."
Other than IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Gabi Ashkenazi, no official representatives had contacted the family following the tapes release, he told reporters.
Noam Shalit after hearing son's tape (Photo: Doron Golan)
"I won't give the government advice on television," said Shalit. "I'm asking the powers at be to start pushing the matter forward," he added. "It sounds like Gilad. The words themselves don't mean that much since they were obviously dictated to him."
'Lack of interest'
On the tape, posted on Hamas’ website at around 3 pm, Shalit is heard saying, “I regret the lack of interest on the part of the Israeli government and the Israel Defense Forces in my case and their refusal to meet the demands of the al-Qassam brigades.
"They have to give in to these demands so I can be released from prison, especially since I was on a military operation, and not as some drug dealer (referring to Elhanan Tenenboim). I have a mother and a father," continued the tape, "and so do the Palestinian prisoners, who have mothers and father waiting for their sons."
Noam Shalit seemed positive the voice on the tape is indeed Gilad's, even if no official confirmation has been given yet.
"I'm no expert on Hamas," he said. "There are a lot of question marks. We don't know when the tape was made but we can say with a fair amount of certainty it is Gilad.
"There is so much I want to say to him. We want him home with us as soon as possible…we all know of the efforts made (over the past year to release Gilad) but as I've said in yesterday's (Sunday) rally, we've seen no results.
"We hope the new situation in Gaza, be it good of bad for Israel, would be seen by Hamas as a window of opportunity for them to show (the Palestinians) they can get things done," he said
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert listenedto Gilad Shalit's audio message on before heading off to the Sharm el-Sheikh summit in Egypt.
A source from Olmert's entourage in Egypt said, "There is no doubt that the text was dictated to Shalit by Hamas."
"There is no change in Israel's stance," added the source. "Hamas is no partner and this is another example of its cruelty. The prime minister will address the matter during the talks in Sharm with (Jordan’s) King Abdullah, (Palestinian President) Mahmoud Abbas and (Egyptian President) Hosni Mubarak, but will not make it the central issue."