Gilad Shalit Captive Four Years

This week marks four years since Gilad Shalit was kidnapped by Hamas and taken into the Gaza Strip, where he has remained captive.  He has now spent nearly 17% of his life as a prisoner.

Hamas still does not allow the Red Cross or any aid organization access to Shalit.  No one knows how healthy he is, how he is being treated, or his mental condition.  A video of Shalit alive was released in October, 2009.  We know he is alive, but we have few options to respond.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said it best: “A million and a half people are living in Gaza, but only one of them is really in need of humanitarian aid.”  That one, of course, is Gilad Shalit.