Scotfella: Gilad Shalit - 5 year campaign‏

Thursday, 16 June 2011

Gilad Shalit - 5 year campaign‏

June 25th 2011

5th Anniversary of Gilad Shalit’s Abduction

On Sunday June 25th 2006 a Hamas terrorist group attacked an Israeli Merkava Tank Mark 3, which was guarding the security fence and an army post on the Gaza border, both in Israeli territory. The terrorist group crossed the border south of the Gaza Strip by way of a tunnel under the security fence, close to the Kerem Shalom Crossing. During the attack the tank commander, Lt. Hanan Barak and tank team soldier Staff- Sgt. Pavel Slutzker were killed. Four other soldiers were wounded. The terrorist group abducted Gilad Shalit, a member of the tank crew, who it seems was wounded during the abduction, and transferred him to the Gaza Strip. A day after the abduction the 26th June 2006, Izz ad-Din al-Quassam Brigades (the military wing of the Palestinian governing party Hamas), the “Popular Resistance Committees”, which includes members of Fatah, Islamic Jihad and Hamas and the “Army of Islam” announced that they were willing to give information about Gilad. They would do this in return for the release of all female and security prisoners under 18 years old held in Israel. In doing so they took responsibility for the abduction.

Since Gilad’s abduction, there has been no information as to his whereabouts or as to the conditions of his captivity. Gilad has not been granted any visitation rights by the International Red Cross or any other humanitarian organization, as required by International Law. The Shalit family has tried to send a number of letters, through the International Red Cross. As far the family knows Gilad has only received one letter, which was transferred with the mediation of the French President Nicolas Sarkozy to Khaled Mash’al, Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau and then to Gilad. Gilad, son of Noam and Aviva and brother of Yoel and Hadas, was born in Naharia on the 28th August, 1986. At the age of two the family moved to Mitzpe Hilla in the Western Galilee. Gilad was educated at local schools and graduated with excellence after majoring in Science. In 2005 Gilad began his military service in the Armoured Corps in the 71st Regiment of the 81st Brigade.

What you can do to help, which could make a difference to Gilad’s situation. Email or write to:

Your local (Lord) Mayor: you can find the contact details via Google on the internet. Explain Gilad’s situation and request that he/she would write to Geoff Loane, Head of the UK Mission of the International Red Cross (address below) to ask for more strenuous pressure to be made for Gilad to receive basic humanitarian rights of a Red Cross visit, letters etc.
Your MP: to find the contact details look in the telephone book or go tohttp://findyourmp.parliament.uk/. Ask your MP for an update on the UK Government’s efforts on behalf of Gilad and if there is anything further that he/she can do to assist him in receiving his basic human rights.
Your MEP: to find the contact details look in the telephone book or go tohttp://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/public/geoSearch/zoneList.do?country=GB&language=EN. Ask your MEP what he/she is able to do to alleviate the lack of basic humanitarian rights for Gilad.
The Local and National Newspapers: Write to them to remind them of Gilad’s continues captivity.
Head of the UK Mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross: Mr Geoff Loane, ICRC Mission to the United Kingdom, 7th Floor, 44 Moorfields, LONDON EC2Y 9AL. Email:london.ldn@icrc.org. Express your concern that Gilad is being denied basic humanitarian rights and that you want the ICRC to further pressurise Hamas for a Red Cross visit.
Email Noam & Aviva Shalit to tell them what you have done and to offer some words of supportohelshalit@gmail.com.
Facebook: Copy the Picture at the top and use it as your facebook profile picture for the week and ask your friends to do the same.
Say a prayer for Gilad, the other MIA soldiers & their families. Ask others to participate in this campaign.