A campaign group working to free abducted IDF soldiers on Sunday announced plans to concentrate its efforts into pressuring European governments to use their influence to help push for the immediate release of soldiers held by Hezbollah since July 12.

The group also hopes to encourage Europe to push for the release of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, held by Hamas since June 25. Negotiations are ongoing over Shalit's release.

The first activity of the group will take place Wednesday opposite the European parliament in Brussels during its opening ceremony.

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The organization says it is expecting a large turnout, including thousands of people from Jewish communities across Europe, which will assemble alongside friends and family of the soldiers.

Roger Pinto, chairman of the European committee for the return of the soldiers and chairman of the Tziona organization (which organized the rally with the campaign and the World Zionist Organization) said the European governments had an obligation to work for the soldiers' release.

"The rally is taking place opposite the European parliament with the goal of applying pressure on the countries of Europe that are signatory to UN Security Council Resolution 1701, and as such bear responsibility for the safety of [abducted soldiers] Udi [Ehud] Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. The same goes for Gilad Shalit - Europe aids the Palestinian Authority and it is its responsibility to assist in Shalit's release."

Campaign representatives said the countries of Europe signatory to the Security Council resolution are obligated to meet their ethical and legal responsibilities, and to do everything in their power to expedite the return of the soldiers, missing for four months.

"I expect every European leader capable of helping us to do so immediately. Considering the circumstances in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, every passing day raises the danger to their lives. We will meet with every person who can help us return Udi, Eldad and Gilad home," Miki Goldwasser, Ehud's mother, said.

Members of the Shalit household are tensely following developments of a possible prisoner exchange deal in Gaza.

"We are talking about an egg that hasn't hatched, and I don't want to deal with speculations," Noam Shalit, Gilad's father, said.

"In the meantime, we don't know anything and the Israeli sources we're in contact with haven't told the family about any developments or breakthroughs," he said.