Demonstrators call for basic human rights for Schalit

On Int'l Human Rights Day, protesters gather outside Red Cross offices in Tel Aviv, asking human rights groups to work to free kidnapped soldier.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Schalit Demo 311 (photo credit: Gali Sheffer Manor)
Schalit Demo 311
(photo credit: Gali Sheffer Manor)
On Friday's International Human Rights Day, some 200 people demonstrated outside the Red Cross offices in Tel Aviv, calling for action to bring about the fulfilling of  the basic human rights for kidnapped soldier Gilad Schalit.
Gilad's father, Noam Schalit, addressed the crowd, saying that "Gilad's being held hostage for purposes of extortion and negotiation without any basic human rights is clearly an insufferable war crime that is worthy of thunderous condemnation from the entire free world."
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Noam Schalit said that Gilad's captors, Hamas, must accept full responsibility for the war crime.
"We call on all the people of the free world to help cease the continued suffering of Gilad and to demand he be saved from Hamas before it is too late,"  said Schalit.
Jewish Agency chairman Natan Sharansky also addressed the demonstrators, saying "Gilad doesn't read newspapers or receive letters but I have no doubt that he knows and feels that we will never forget him and we will make every effort to bring about his release."
"We are calling on all the world's organizations that deal with the issue of human rights to react to Hamas's war crimes and to work to free Gilad and get him back home," Sharansky added.