Hamas: Video will prove Gilad Shalit alive and well
Israel says 20 women to be counted towards prisoners released in a future deal for Shalit.
By Avi Issacharoff and Barak Ravid Tags: Gilad Shalit Hamas Gaza Israel newsA senior Hamas official said on Wednesday that a video to be released Friday will prove that abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit is alive and well.
Musa Abu-Marzouk said that the video, to be given to Israel in exchange for the release of 20 female Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, will also include proof that it was filmed recently.
Earlier Wednesday, a spokesperson for the military wing of Hamas, Abu Obeida, said that the deal to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for proof of life of Shalit shows progress has been reached toward a wider prisoner exchange.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commended Haggai Hadas, who heads the negotiating team, and his staff for their professional work, far from the public eye. "It is important that the entire world know that Gilad Shalit is alive and well and that Hamas is responsible for his well-being and fate," Netanyahu said.
The Prime Minister's office has stated that if a larger prisoner release is secured for the release of Gilad Shalit, the twenty women released this week will count towards the total number of detainees released.
Of the 20 female Palestinian prisoners to be released by Israel, Hamas has stated that four are members of Hamas, five belong to the rival Fatah faction, and three are members of Islamic Jihad. Only one of the prisoners is a resident of the Gaza Strip, the rest are from the West Bank.
The prisoners had all served at least two thirds of their sentences and none had more than two years left to serve.
Last week, Egypt's foreign minister urged Israel to release 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit.
Egypt has been mediating a prisoner swap and Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said Israel needs to show flexibility.
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To prove Gilad Shalit alive and well.
"Is that why Israel keep so many Palestinians behind bars? So that they may demonstrate how much more valuable an Israeli prisoner is than a Palestinian when the occasion arises. How many Palestinians equal one Israeli in the mind of a Zionist?" Actually the Israelis would much prefer not to have to have any Palestinian prisoners, but the Palestinians are treated royally in Israel's prisons, as the Israelis wish to make peace. As a result the Palestinians seemingly do whatever they can to be taken prisoner. Then Hamas demands thousands of Pal prisoners for a single Israeli, before the Pals have been rehabilitated and convinced not to re-offend! It is a visious circle
Is that why Israel keep so many Palestinians behind bars? So that they may demonstrate how much more valuable an Israeli prisoner is than a Palestinian when the occasion arises. How many Palestinians equal one Israeli in the mind of a Zionist?
Where is the antiIsrael Goldstone? That goes to show that you dont have to be bottom of the ladder to be an idiot, you can also be on (supposedly) on to of the ladder to be an idiot like "this" Goldstone. And what a pity
How do we know when it was taken? It could be two years old! Hamas gives NOTHING!
I am woking on it. Don't woRRy, it will bear a bourful mesij.
Israel got it wrong: Hamas wants a video of 71 virgins for their heros! How can a government fall so low and give in for nothing in return. Israel for once has a ggod case to for a worldwide campaign but just misses - as usual - the opportunity. Where is Mr. Sarkozy (only defending a convicted pedophile criminal) but not his own citizen? the Red Cross who's obligation it is to see prisoners! and all so called civilized countries from the USA, EU, Switzerland (as depositary of the Geneva convention). Be active and not reactive!
... exactly how the video will prove anything unless the date can be ascertained. I am reminded of a movie "Missing"? where the dead rebel leader was photographed in a life-like pose with today's paper in his hands to refute the headline alleging his death.
Hamas will be held accountable for the well-being or fate of Gilad Shalit, but Hamas is not "responsible". The wording is wrong: Israel is responsible for the tragically abducted IDF soldier in the hands of scabrous terrorists.
on the day that he is to be released, Hamas will likely shoot him in the back "for trying to escape". If a video is worth 20 prisoners then a live Shalit must be worth at least 20,000 prisoners!
I assume there will be some way of ensuring the video was made recently, not shortly after he was kidnapped.
If HAMAS is so sure of Gilad Shalit's health and well being, then it should immediately allow the ICRC access to him, as is required by the organization's own rules. Given that Israeli membership was conditioned on accepting the Palestinians into the international body, HAMAS should own up to the Palestinian obligations. Otherwise, HAMAS should be exposed for the terrorist group that it is.
1 picture or video of an Israeli = 20 Palestinian women. The return of 1 kidnapped Israeli soldier = 1000 Palestinians. Just goes to show that even the Palestinians value themselves as 1/1000 of an Israeli. My 1000/1 Cents :-)