But thousands of Israeli families who send their sons and daughters to serve in the country's conscript army were riveted by the drama that spoke to their visceral fears. Corporal Gilad Shalit was 19 when he was captured in June by a squad of Palestinian militants who had tunnelled from Gaza into Israel to attack his tank near the border fence.
He disappeared into the labyrinths of Gaza's densely populated cities and refugee camps for five years and four months.
Last October, he was released in exchange for 1, Palestinian prisoners. By then, he was a symbol of national unity, the face on millions of posters and T-shirts, the reason for yellow ribbons tied to countless cars, the inspiration for songs, the cause of thousands of dedicated campaigners. Gilad is not yet ready to describe his ordeal and its aftermath to the media, says his father. He was kept in the dark except for a few times when he was transferred from place to place, when he was blindfolded.
Sunlight was a shock for him. Noam and his wife Aviva have avoided questioning their son too closely about his captivity. But he's told us he had some interaction with his guards. They weren't the people who kidnapped him, they were soldiers obeying orders. But there were conversations — partly in Hebrew, partly in English. Within days of the abduction Israel launched a punitive military bombardment of the tiny Gaza Strip, causing the family terrible anxiety, repeated during subsequent military assaults on Gaza, over Gilad's safety.
It was followed by many attempts to broker a deal to secure the soldier's release. The parameters were established early — he would be freed only in exchange for a large number of Palestinian prisoners — but the deal was repeatedly aborted. IDF Spokesperson. Prime Minister of Israel.
Download our mobile app for on-the-go access to the Jewish Virtual Library. Category » Biography. Actors and Comedians. Business Icons. Medal of Honor Recipients. Medal of Freedom Recipients. Musicians and Singers. Nobel Prize Laureates. Sports Figures. A Christian Science Perspective. Monitor Movie Guide. Monitor Daily. Photos of the Week. Captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit is seen in this file still image from video released October 2, by Israeli television.
This undated photo released by the Shalit family shows Cpl. Gilad Shalit, who was captured by militants in Gaza during a cross-border raid on June 25, at the age of By Ariel Zirulnick Staff writer azirulnick. You've read of free articles. Ready to get tough with us? So now we have a request. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
0コメント