In response the video, the Schalit family released a statement on Monday
attacking Hamas's actions. The statement read, "[We are] troubled that
instead of worrying about the hundreds of Palestinian prisoners jailed
in Israel, Hamas leaders have chosen to continue holding Gilad, our son,
captive as a hostage for their political aspirations, an act which is
an ongoing war crime according to international law."
The statement continued, "In addition, Hamas leaders in Gaza and
Damascus are not hesitant to add, and even take a new approach, to the
psychological warfare of the lowest level against the Schalit family,
instead of respecting international law and conventions."
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Hamas posted a video of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit on
Youtube on Monday, suggesting he would be killed if a deal was not soon
reached.
In the animated video, two masked men
are shown standing on either side of Gilad Schalit in a dark room, with
one of them holding an AK-47 assualt rifle.
At
the end of the 24-second video, gun shots are heard as the movie goes
black and the words "Is the mission completed?" are seen written in
Arabic.
In response the video, the Schalit
family released a statement saying that, "The Schalit family is troubled
that instead of worrying about the hundreds of Palestinian prisoners
jailed in Israel, some of which could have been at home long ago, Hamas
leaders have chosen to continue holding Gilad, our son, captive as a
hostage for their political aspirations, an act which is an ongoing war
crime according to international law." The statement continued, "In
addition, Hamas leaders in Gaza and Damascus are not hesitant to add,
and even take a new approach, to the psychological warfare of the lowest
level against the Schalit family, instead of respecting international
law and conventions."
The Schalit family has
campaigned tirelessly to pressure the
government to reach an agreement with Hamas for their son's
release. They even turned down Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s
appeal before the High Holy Days to leave their protest tent in front of
his Jerusalem residence and return home for the holidays, saying
nothing has happened over the last eight months that would justify
taking a break from their vigil.
“Unfortunately, Gilad is spending his fifth Rosh Hashana in Hamas
cellars in Gaza,” Noam Schalit, Gilad’s father, told journalists after
holding a two-hour meeting with Netanyahu.
Schalit said
there is no activity with the German mediator, no pressure
being placed on Hamas, and no effort to gain “bargaining chips,” while
those chips that were in Israel’s hands – Hamas legislators in Israeli
jails – have for the most part been released. In addition, he said,
there has been no sign of life from Gilad since Hamas released a video
tape of him a year ago.
“For eight months, nothing has happened, except for words,” Schalit
said.
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