Shalits mark 5th year of Gilad's captivity
Family of Hamas-held soldier urges PM to finalize deal 'before it's too late'
The Shalit family will be marking five years to son Gilad's captivity this weekend. Supporters of the family's fight to see the government retrieve their son will hold a series of protests and mass rallies across Israel.
The main event will take place at Herzlyia Studios, Israel's largest TV production facilities, where – for 24 hours- dozens of prominent Israeli figures will take turns spending one hour in solitary confinement, a special "dungeon" built on the premises, as a sign of solidarity with the Hamas-held soldier.
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Saturday will see a protest rally held outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's in Caesarea. The Shalit campaign will hold its weekly protest rally in Jerusalem on Sunday.
The city of Rome, which named Gilad Shalit an honorary citizen, will stage a mass support rally as well: The mayor of Rome and those attending the rally will release hundreds of yellow balloons into the air – corresponding with the number of days Shalit has been held in captivity.
Shalit has been held in Hamas captivity for 1,826 days.
In a statement released by Shalit's parents, the family called on the public to arrive at the protest tent in Jerusalem: "Saturday, June 25, on the day when our son Gilad was abducted, five long years ago.
"It has been 1,826 lonely days and nights in which Gilad has not seen the light of day. Is he aware it has been five years? How does he survive this never-ending nightmare, if at all?"
No one, said the statement, "ever believed we would see this horrible day. No one thought it would take the Israel government so long to retrieve a soldier who is alive, who it sent on a mission five years ago. Join us in urging the prime minister – there is no alternative. You have to make the decisions that would save Gilad today. Before it is too late!"
Gilad's family - still waiting (Photo: Avishag Shaar-Yashuv)
Thursday saw an unusual move by various human rights groups, which usually advocate Palestinian rights more vocally: Several HR groups issued a statement protesting Shalit's prolonged captivity by Hamas.
"Gilad Shalit has been held by Hamas for five years now. His captors refuse to allow him any contact with his family have failed to provide any information about his condition and the conditions of his confinement. We wish to stress that this is inhumane conduct which is violation of International Humanitarian Law."
Hamas, the groups added, "Must immediately stop in cruel and inhumane treatment of Gilad Shalit and pending his release, they must allow the Red Cross to visit him."
The statement is signed by such groups as Amnesty, B'Tselem, Yesh Din, Human Rights Watch and the Palestinian Center for Human Rights.
An International Red Cross also issued a statement, saying the lack of any information about Shalit was "unacceptable," and further demanded Hamas presents immediate proof of life of the captive soldier.
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