The Hamas military wing released an audio message purportedly from captive Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit yesterday, marking exactly a year since he was abducted near the Gaza border.

The message - which, unlike previous announcements, does not mention any of the other Palestinian groups that took part in Shalit's abduction - is the first sign of life from Shalit since Hamas released a letter from the soldier to his father in September. In the recording, which was posted on a Hamas Web site, Shalit said his health was deteriorating, that Palestinian prisoners must be returned home and that he was confident Israel would "accept the demands of my captors." He appeared to be reading a statement that had been dictated to him.

	Advertisement

Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamed said after the recording was released that negotiations on Shalit's release could be renewed, possibly with Egyptian involvement.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced at a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh yesterday that Israel will release 250 Palestinian prisoners, all members of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement. Olmert said that the cabinet would approve the prisoner release on Sunday. However, no prisoners directly involved in murdering Israelis will be released, and those freed will have to promise to eschew terror.

Palestinian Prisoner Affairs Minister Ashraf Ajrami told Haaretz that the PA would like Israel to first release the prisoners who have been in Israeli jails for more than 20 years; prisoners who are also political leaders, like Marwan Barghouti; and women, children and the sick.

Hours after Hamas released the audio message, Shalit's father Noam said the tape appears to be authentic, although the content was "obviously dictated by his captors."

"We hope this is a sign that Hamas is genuinely interested in making progress on a deal," he said from his home in Mitzpeh Hila. He said that, if Hamas is genuinely interested in talks, he expects Israel to take the necessary steps to make a deal.

"It has been a year," said Noam Shalit. "I think that is enough."

In the recording, the voice identified as Gilad Shalit said he was disappointed over the Israeli government's "lack of interest" in his fate.

"I am Gilad, son of Noam Shalit, prisoner of the Iz al-Din al-Qassam [Hamas military wing] kataib," the message began, using the Arabic word for "brigades" and strengthening suspicions he was reading a written statement.

"I am sorry for the Israeli government's and IDF's lack of interest in me and their rejection of the demands of Iz al-Din al-Qassam. It is clear that they must accept their demands if they want me to be released from prison, especially since I was part of a military operation under military instruction and not a drug dealer.

"And just as I have a mother and father, the thousands of Palestinian prisoners also have mothers and fathers - and their children must be returned to them. I have great confidence in my government that they will focus more on my issue and accept the demands of my captors."

Shalit said in the recording that his health was deteriorating and that he requires prolonged hospitalization. However, Abu Mujahid, a spokesman for the Hamas-linked Popular Resistance Committees, said Shalit was in good health.

"Shalit is alive and in very good shape," said Abu Mujahid.