Gilad Shalit

Gilad Shalit is an Israel Defense Forces soldier held captive in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip since June 2006. Ongoing efforts to secure his release as part of a prisoner exchange, via German and Egyptian mediation, have to date proved unsuccessful.

The 23-year-old Shalit was born in Nahariya to Aviva and Noam, and was raised from the age of two in Mizpe Hila in the Western Galilee. He has an older brother and a younger sister, and also holds a French passport.

When he turned 18, Shalit was drafted into the IDF armored corps. On June 25, 2006, the then 19-year-old corporal and his comrades were manning a post alongside the Israel-Gaza border when Palestinian gunmen opened fire on their position. The gunmen had dug a tunnel underneath the Gaza barrier, allowing them to reach the position undetected. Two IDF soldiers were killed in the attack, three were wounded, and Shalit was led by his captors into Gaza. Three days after his abduction, IDF forces entered Gaza in an attempt to locate and retrieve him. In the operation, 277 Palestinians and five Israeli soldiers were killed, but Shalit was not returned.

Immediately following his capture, Hamas demanded the release of all female Palestinian prisoners and all prisoners under the age of 18 from Israeli jails in exchange for information on Shalit. Israel refused, and on July 1, 2006, his captors demanded the release of a further 1,000 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons.

In June 2007, one year after his abduction, the Hamas military wing, Iz a-Din al-Qassam, released an audio tape in which Shalit is heard appealing for a prisoner-swap deal to be reached to secure his release.

In October 2009, in exchange for the release of 20 female Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, Hamas released a videotape of Shalit, in which he appeared to be in good health. Since his capture, neither the Red Cross nor any other external organization has been allowed access to the soldier in order to independently assess his physical and mental condition.

Shalit's parents have been waging an ongoing campaign for the past four years to pressure the Israeli government into reaching a deal that would free him. He has also been subject of various international campaigns and support groups, and was named an honorary citizen of Paris in December 2008.

Latest Stories on Gilad Shalit

Shalit family welcomed by Sarkozy, French Jewish group in Paris

Former IDF soldier Gilad Shalit meets Sarkozy, Carla Bruni at Elysee Palace; Gilad's parents received as guests of honor at annual gala dinner of Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions.

by Danna Harman 0 comments

France's Sarkozy meets with Gilad Shalit in Paris

Family of former IDF soldier, who was held in Hamas captivity for five years, thanks Sarkozy for his 'commitment' to obtaining Shalit's release.

by The Associated Press 32 comments

Shin Bet chief: Shalit's poor health prompted Hamas to strike deal with Israel

Hamas feared Shalit would die in captivity, says Yoram Cohen, adding that its precarious status in Syria and internal considerations had also led to greater willingness to strike a deal for the IDF soldier's release.

by Barak Ravid 15 comments

Palestinian prisoner - Ilan Assayag - 17102011

IDF arrests Palestinian prisoner released in Shalit swap

Mamun Ismyail Salame Stut's arrest makes him the first released prisoner to be recaptured since the prisoner swap; according to an IDF spokesperson, Stut was arrested for being a security threat.

by Gili Cohen 43 comments

View All Latest Opinion on Gilad Shalit

A tragedy foretold

Shalit and Goldwasser, who were embraced and seen as somewhat superior to the rest of the nation because of their successful functioning as celebrities at a time of bereavement and captivity, will be denounced because of their attempts to expand the boundaries of that role.

by Ravit Hecht 1 comments

When there's no price tag

A report into the impact of mass releases of terrorists in exchange for abducted Israelis, commissioned four years ago, was ready six months before the Shalit deal, but was submitted last week.

by Israel Harel 1 comments

Neither Lapid nor Shalit deserves to be in politics

Many people who are impressed with Labor leader Shelly Yachimovich's integrity will have trouble voting for her if Shalit is on her list. His place, with all due respect, is at home.

by Shlomo Avineri 28 comments

Shalit saga was a defeat for Israel

The Gilad Shalit saga was another defeat of Israel; praising ourselves for our national solidarity cannot change the fact that this was another victory for terror.

by Moshe Arens 29 comments

View All Pictures of Gilad Shalit