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kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Schalit
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| By israelinsider staff April 8, 2007 |
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General Jamal Hamad, head of the Egyptian team leading negotiations with Hamas for the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Schalit, denied reports that his delegation delivered a pair of glasses to Schalit while in captivity, since his were lost in the course of the kidnapping.
Cpl. Gilad Schalit was taken captive during a cross-border raid near Kerem Shalom on June 25, 2006.
General Hamad told the Palestinian newspaper Al-Quds that the recent reports of the delivery were "guesses" that would do nothing to ensure Schalit's release, The Jerusalem Post reported.
Al-Sinara, a newspaper based in Nazareth, reported last Friday that Schalit had been given his glasses. The Egyptian delegation gave the glasses to Schalit's captors, who then passed them on to Shalit, Palestinian sources had explained to the newspaper.
According to the report, Noam Shalit, Gilad's father, had sent the glasses more than two months ago.
Following Friday's report, Ynetnews reported that Noam Schalit described the transfer as a positive step, but said he still had not been given any sign that his son is alive.
A spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committees in Gaza, one of the terrorist groups responsible for keeping Schalit in captivity, responded by calling the report pure "speculation," Ynetnews reported.
The spokesman, Abu Mujahad, added, "We shall not talk about the soldier and the negotiations, in compliance with the request of our Egyptians brothers."
Also on Friday, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said on French television that Schalit would be freed soon. In the interview Abbas said, "I want to tell you that we are investing all our efforts to release Gilad Schalit, and these efforts will bear fruit soon. We are optimistic. He will be released soon," The Jerusalem Post reported.
Abbas continued, "He cannot continue being imprisoned for a very long time. We are calling on the Israelis to release Palestinian prisoners. There are 9,500 prisoners to release."
Abbas also said that Schalit's release should not be dependent on the release of Palestinian prisoners. The Palestinian President has claimed many times in the past that Schalit would be released shortly. |
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