Shalit: Hamas ignoring all calls
Photo: Amir Levy
Shalits file claim in Paris for son's release
Father asks French court to use international warrants to arrest Hamas leaders holding his son
Noam Shalit, the father of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, has filed a claim asking investigating magistrates in Paris to probe his son's capture "for political blackmail and continuing torture".
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Gilad Shalit, who has been in Hamas captivity for 1,807 days, is a French citizen. The Shalits' claim was filed in accordance with French law, which permits the trying of anyone who has committed a serious crime against a French citizen, no matter where they are from.
The court also has the power to summon Hamas leaders for investigation using international Interpol arrest warrants.
Noam Shalit says Hamas leaders continue to violate international law by holding his son. "I appeal to the French court system as an independent and neutral entity," he said.
"Such an appeal is impossible to file with an Israeli court. We've asked the court as Israeli and French citizens to investigate the people who kidnapped my son Gilad and have been holding him hostage for five years now, in total solitude and without anyone seeing him or any basic rights."
The kidnappers have so far ignored international calls for Shalit's release by the European Parliament, US Congress, German Bundestag, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, US President Barack Obama, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the father added.
Meanwhile efforts to arrive at an agreement for Shalit's release continue. Defense Minister Ehud Barak met with his Egyptian counterpart Sunday to discuss negotiations, the ministry said.
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