Gilad has been imprisoned for over 5 years now.
As a combat soldier in the IDF on the front lines of Gaza in 2006, he could be considered a fair target for Hamas’ abduction. Israel has actively employed the policy of arresting, trying, and imprisoning Hamas members who are proven to have perpetrated attacks on Israelis or are masterminding them. All of the Hamas members in Israeli prisons were tried in a court of law, and are imprisoned based on a court mandated sentencing. It is an organized affair, completely monitored all along the way (in the court rooms and inside the prisons) by the International Red Cross. The stark difference here is that for over 5 years (since the moment of his capture) no one outside of Hamas has had any known contact with Gilad. International Red Cross representatives have been denied access time and time again. Any Israeli attempts to receive official word on his status (even through third parties) has been completely denied by Hamas.
A wall mural in Jabalya, Gaza, depicting Gilad Schalit growing old in Hamas captivity.
Hamas’ treatment of Gilad Schalit is inhumane. Sadly, this does not surprise any Israeli. Israelis learned the very hard way, long ago, that Hamas views Jews in Israel as subhuman and deserving of no human dignity. Murals on Gaza streets boast that Gilad will grow old and rot in their captivity. An immoral public display such as this, referring to Palestinian prisoners, would be unthinkable to see on Israeli walls. This makes negotiations for Gilad’s release almost impossible.
This week protesters on Gilad’s behalf blocked a bus on an Israeli highway full of Palestinian families on their way to a prison in southern Israel. This bus was taking Palestinian families from the West Bank to visit their loved ones who are Hamas members convicted and imprisoned in Israel. The families on this bus committed no crime and were simply on their way to attend the regularly scheduled visiting days for their imprisoned family members. The protesters carried signs that read “Who is visiting Gilad?” (For more on this story see: http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=233830)
This is the question that not enough people are asking. Internationally, Israel is largely viewed as the “aggressor” and “inhumane occupier” in this protracted conflict with Palestinian Hamas and Islamic Jihad. It has been said that the best way for a country or people to be morally and ethically assessed is to examine their prisons. Perhaps this is why Hamas will allow no such thing.
A Modern Perspective 