Gilad Shalit

Gilad Shalit
גלעד שליט
Shalit on the phone with his parents, after arriving in Israel on 18 October 2011
Born	(1986-08-28) 28 August 1986 (age 37) Nahariya, Israel
Nationality	Israel France
Education	Manor Kabri High School
Occupation	Sports columnist
Known for	Captured in Israel by Palestinian militants, and held for five years until released in exchange for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners.
Awards	Honorary citizen of Paris, Rome, Miami, New Orleans, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh
Military career
Allegiance	Israel
Service/branch	Israeli Army
Rank	Sergeant First Class
Unit	Armor Corps

Gilad Shalit (Hebrew: גלעד שליט, Gilˁad Šaliṭ listen^ⓘ; born 28 August 1986) is a former MIA soldier of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) who, on 25 June 2006, was captured by Palestinian militants in a cross-border raid via tunnels near the Israeli border.^[1][2] Hamas held him captive for over five years until his release on 18 October 2011 as part of a prisoner exchange deal.

During his captivity, Hamas rejected requests from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to visit Shalit, claiming that such visits could compromise his location. Several human rights organizations criticized this position, asserting that the conditions of Shalit's confinement were in violation of international humanitarian law. The Red Cross stated, "The Shalit family have the right under international humanitarian law to be in contact with their son."^[3] In the early months, the sole means of communication was through an intermediary, who claimed that a low-ranking Hamas official, Ghazi Hamad, asked him to convey to Shalit's parents the assurance that Shalit was "alive and was treated according to Islam's laws regarding prisoners of war. In other words, he had been given shelter, food, and medical care."^[4] The United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict called for Shalit's release in its September 2009 report.^[5] In the G8's Deauville Declaration of May 27, 2011, they demanded Shalit's release.^[6]

Many sources have categorized Shalit's capture as both a kidnapping and an abduction.^{[1][2][7][8][9]} During his captivity, he was denied visits from the Red Cross and any communication with family members, both of which he was entitled to as a captured soldier under the Geneva Conventions. Furthermore, his captors demanded a form of ransom, although not necessarily of a monetary nature, in exchange for his release. The only instances of contact between Shalit and the outside world during his captivity, prior to his eventual release, consisted of three letters, an audio tape, and a DVD. These were provided to Israel in exchange for the release of 20 female Palestinian prisoners.^[10]

Shalit was captured near the Kerem Shalom crossing in Israel and was held by Hamas at an undisclosed location within the Gaza Strip.^[11] Hamas' initial demands, which included the release of all female and underage Palestinians, as well as Marwan Barghouti, were not met.^[12][13] On 18 October 2011, Shalit was eventually released in a negotiated agreement, securing his freedom after more than five years in isolation and captivity. In exchange, 1,027 Palestinian prisoners were released, some of whom were convicted of multiple murders and carrying out attacks against Israeli civilians. According to Israeli government sources, these released prisoners were collectively responsible for 569 Israeli deaths.^{[14][15][16][17][18]}

Shalit became the first Israeli soldier to be captured by Palestinian militants since the incident involving Nachshon Wachsman in 1994.^[19] Shalit held the rank of Corporal in the IDF's Armor Corps at the time of his capture, and he was subsequently promoted to Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, and Sergeant First Class just before his release.^[20][21] He holds dual Israeli and French citizenship, the latter via his grandmother.^[22]