Palestinians: Shalit lightly hurt, examined by physician
Sources in Gaza say kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit was examined by physician a few days after his abduction, adding that he is suffering from a mild stomach injury
An initial report on the condition of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit was received Saturday, seven days after his abduction during an attack on an IDF outpost near Gaza.
Palestinian sources said an examination of the soldier by a Palestinian physician a few days after the kidnapping found that he is suffering from a light stomach injury caused by shrapnel.
Senior Fatah member Ziad Abu A’an told reporters in Ramallah that “Shalit was treated by a doctor and he is fine.”
Shalit was a member of the tank crew that was attacked in an IDF outpost near Gaza last Sunday; two crew members were killed in the attack and another soldier was seriously injured.
IDF forces awaiting orders (Photo: AFP)
Shalit was kidnapped by the militants and taken to Gaza, where he is apparently being held at present time.
Meanwhile, IDF forces surrounding Gaza remain on high alert, awaiting orders to advance into the Strip itself.
Military officials have not ruled out the possibility that the current stalemate may last for several more days in an effort to bring about the soldier’s release through diplomatic means.
Earlier on Saturday the Palestinian factions who captured Shalit demanded that Israel free 1,000 prisoners from its jails and end an assault on Gaza launched to win the soldier’s release.
A statement from the groups—the second since Corporal Gilad Shalit was captured in a raid across Gaza’s frontier on Sunday—appeared to cast doubt on the hopes of mediators that diplomacy could soon get him free.
Israel, for its part, rejected the demand and reiterated that it would not negotiate with the kidnappers.
Over the weekend IDF forces stationed north of the Strip made final preparations for a possible raid and searched for underground tunnels that nay be used for terror attacks.
Forces continued to operate in Gaza, with Golani Brigade and Armored Corps forces taking up positions in the Dahaniya area in south Gaza. Southern Command Chief Major-General Yoav Galant said last week that forces entered the area first due to estimations that Shalit was initially taken there by his abductors.
The Air Force attacked two Fatah and Hamas facilities in Gaza over the weekend, in addition to seven access roads. During the last 24 hours the IDF fired more than 350 shells at areas used by Palestinians to fire rockets toward Israel.
“We will continue to operate against terror infrastructures in Gaza to create the conditions for the safe return home of Corporal Shalit and to bring an end to the terror attacks and Qassam fire on Israel,” the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said in a statement.
'Israel must nip process in the bud'
IDF officials said they estimate the Gaza operation has brought about a decrease in Qassam rocket fire, although it has not stopped it completely. On Saturday a mortar shell fired from Gaza landed in an open field in the western Negev; no injuries were reported.
Forces positioned north of the Strip were instructed last Thursday to halt preparations for a possible invasion, mainly due to the fact that the government wishes to exhaust all diplomatic efforts initiated by Egypt and France to end the crisis.
Defense Minister Amir Peretz said “if the soldier is returned and the Qassam rocket fire stops – we will order our soldiers to return to their bases.”
Meanwhile, United Arab List-Ta’al MK Ahmad Tibi turned to Attorney General Menachem Mazuz demanding that he instruct Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz to cease all attacks on civilian targets in Gaza, claiming they constitute a breach of international law and collective punishment against the Palestinians.
MK Yuval Steinitz (Likud) called on Olmert to continue the operation for Shalit’s release and even expand it to destroy the terror infrastructures and the Qassam rocket industry.
“In Gaza a process of creating a Palestinian army similar to Hizbullah in Lebanon has begun, and Israel must nip this process in the bud,” he said.
Hanan Greenberg contributed to the report
