June 6, 2011
Shalit’s parents ask French court to find kidnappers
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The parents of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit have filed a lawsuit asking a French court to determine who is holding their son and to issue an international arrest order.
Shalit holds French citizenship, and French law allows for the prosecution of anyone who has committed a serious crime against a French citizen, no matter where they are from.
While the lawsuit does not specifically name Hamas as the kidnapper, it does point in the Islamist group’s direction.
The court ultimately could issue international arrest warrants against the kidnappers.
Shalit was captured in a cross-border raid between Israel and Gaza in June 2006. He is believed to be held by Hamas in an undiscovered location in Gaza.
Hamas has demanded the release of 1,000 Palestinians in Israeli jails, including some directly responsible for the deaths of Israelis, in order to effect Shalit’s release.
In October 2009, Hamas released a one-minute videotape of Shalit in exchange for the release of 20 female Hamas prisoners in Israeli jails. Hamas has not allowed the Red Cross to visit Shalit.
