Hamas Releases Audio of Israeli Soldier

A year after capture, Cpl. Gilad Shalit says his health is failing
By Caroline Miller,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 25, 2007 9:49 AM CDT
Hamas Releases Audio of Israeli Soldier
In this handout photo released by Israel's Maariv newspaper,Monday, June 25, 2007, Israeli soldier, Cpl. Gilad Shalit, 19,is seen in an unknown location in Israel. On the anniversary of his capture by Hamas-allied militants, captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit said in an audio message posted on a...   (Associated Press)

In the first proof that he is alive a year after capture, Hamas militants today released an audio recording of Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier seized in a cross-border raid near the Gaza strip. In the message posted on the group's web site, Shalit said a year in prison is taking a toll on his health, and pleaded with the Israeli government to agree to a prisoner swap.

"Just as I have parents, a mother and father, the thousands of Palestinian prisoners have mothers and fathers to whom their sons must be returned," he said. Shalit 's father said in an interview on Ch. 2 television that the he believes the tape was coerced. Red cross workers have not been allowed to see Shalit. Negotiations for a prisoner swap have reached an impasse, with Israel balking at the number and type of prisoner to be released. (More Israel stories.)

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