Last update - 00:00 25/08/2007
Noam Shalit denies receiving calming message from Hamas
By Jack Khoury, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service
Noam Shalit, father of abducted IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, on Saturday denied that Hamas leader Khaled Meshal had contacted him to inform him that Gilad is alive.
In an interview with CNN on Friday, Meshal, the head of Hamas' political office in Damascus, said he had confirmed to Noam Shalit that his son was alive and well, and that Hamas has given the kidnapped soldier a pair of eyeglasses.
In the past, Shalit's captors have refused to accept eyeglasses sent by his parents because they feared they were embedded with miniature electronic devices.
In a conversation with Haaretz, Noam Shalit said no direct contact has been made between him and Hamas or his son's kidnappers.
In reference to Meshal's statements about the state of his son's health, Noam Shalit said: "I do not know, and have no indication of the credibility of this; some time ago a different Hamas official said he is unwell - and we don't know who to believe."
Shalit was kidnapped in June 2006 during a cross-border raid by Gaza militants, including members of the Hamas military wing.
On Tuesday the Shalit family will mark Gilad's 21st birthday. This will be the second birthday he has had while in captivity. Friends of the soldier and an organization formed to push for the release of all abducted IDF soldiers are planning a series of events for that day.
Noam Shalit stressed that his family is not initiating any special activity for Tuesday, but did not rule out taking part in the organized events.
Meshal also stated in the CNN interview that Hamas has put forward a list of 350 Palestinians it wants released from Israeli jails in return for the abducted soldier, but he blamed Israel for the breakdown of negotiations.
Hamas released a recording of a voice identified as Shalit in June, where the abducted soldier said he was disappointed over the Israeli government's lack of interest in his fate.
Meshal's comments to CNN on Friday counter remarks made by Shalit in the recording where he said he was unwell.
"It has been a year since I was captured, and my health is deteriorating. I am in need of prolonged hospitalization," Shalit said in the message.