'Gilad was not tortured'
PRC head reveals new details about Gilad Shalit's kidnapping, saying IDF soldier received proper medical care following light injury
The Popular Resistance Committees' Secretary-General Zuheir Queisi told the London-based Al-Hayat newspaper that the IDF soldier was not tortured and did receive proper medical care. The PRC took part in Shalit's kidnapping.
- For full coverage of Shalit's homecoming, click here
He added that the injuries Shalit suffered during the kidnapping were light wounds and that he received treatment for them.
"Shalit's confinement needed clear and complex protocols, as well as patience and commitment to security regulations, so as to prevent Israel, field agents and foreign intelligence units from getting any information about him or his whereabouts," said Queisi.
Queisi added that the first to interrogate Shalit in captivity was Ahmed Hamed, commander of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing. Hamed had reportedly questioned Shalit about his name, citizenship, religion and position in the IDF.
According to Queisi, Shalit was frightened but answered the questions quickly.
Hamed was later killed following the terror attack on southern Israel when IDF troops destroyed the entire PRC leadership.
'Good conditions'
Only hours after the kidnapping, Shalit was transferred to the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, with the approval of his captives, so they could hide him in a secret location.
As for Shalit's captivity conditions, Queisi claimed that "he was kept under good and humanitarian conditions, better than the ones provided by Israel to our prisoners. He watched television and listened to the radio. We monitored his medical and physical conditions very closely as well as his mental state."
wa.jpg "Ahmed Jabari brings in Gilad Shalit")
According to the Hamas official, Shalit was lightly injured during the kidnapping and received medical treatment which led to his full recovery.
Queisi claimed that immediately after the abduction a few Arab countries conveyed messages to the kidnappers demanding to release Shalit "without getting anything in return, so that we will not pay a high price, including the destruction of the Gaza Strip."
He added that the Palestinian factions rejected these demands and threats. "Israel tried to pressure us by killing a large number of activists after his abduction, but the PRC and Palestinian people stood firm."
Barghouti not included
"This is the happiest day of my life," stated Ahmed Jabari, head of Hamas' military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, to Al-Hayat newspaper in a rare interview following the finalization of the first phase of the Shalit deal.
Jabari played an active role in the realization of the swap deal, as he was seen brining Shalit to the Egyptians on Tuesday.
"Israel finally agreed to release half of the prisoners after it hadn't agreed to release any one of them," said Jabari. He added that the exchange deal went through only after Israel agreed to meet Hamas' demands.
However, Israel did refuse to release Marwan Barghouti, Ahmad Saadat and senior Hamas officials. "We realized there was no chance of Israel freeing them," explained Jabari.
He added that it might not have been in Hamas' interest to see Barghouti, a Fatah official and potential leader, released from prison.
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