On June 25, 2006 then Israeli Defense Force Corporal Gilad Shalit was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists from within Israeli territory and taken to the Gaza Strip. The kidnapping was part of an unprovoked attack which involved seven armed terrorists using a tunnel dug under the Israel-Gaza border. Gilad was 19 at the time of his abduction.
During the course of the attack, an IDF soldier, Staff Sergeant Pavel Slutzker, and an officer, Lieutenant Hanan Barak, were murdered, while five others were wounded. Tomorrow, June 25 marks five unimaginable years of Staff Sergeant Shalit`s captivity. For five long years, Hamas has continued to deny Gilad his most basic human rights, including access to the Red Cross. For five years, his family has suffered greatly, not knowing if he is sick or suffering, not knowing if he is still alive, anxiously waiting for his return. The international community should act to end this intolerable situation. As Israel`s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on May 23, 2011: "I think that the entire civilized community should join Israel and the United States and all of us in a simple demand from Hamas: RELEASE GILAD SHALIT!!!" Call to Action: Petition:http://www.standwithus.com/