In the Name of the Father

Noam Shalit testified before the UN Human Rights Council's committee investigating actions around Operation Cast Lead.

"My son's violent abduction and his continuing detention subject to extortion is, equally, a violation of international law."

To the people of Gaza he said:

"He was not attacking your territory. He was not even in your territory. He was operating within the sovereign territory of the State of Israel - protecting the integrity of what was supposed to be a border of peace after a complete Israeli withdrawal.

"Your leaders say Gilad is a prisoner of war. I say he is an abductee. The difference is in the interpretation of the law. But even if your leaders hold my son as a prisoner of war - why will they not allow him the privileges which attach to such a status? Gilad has no contact with the outside world. Your leaders refuse him access to the International Committee of the Red Cross - the same Red Cross which regularly visits your people held captive in Israeli prisons. The same Red Cross which protests the violations of their rights to the Israeli government."

"Your leaders have committed a crime with respect to my son. They hold him to ransom and, by the same token, they hold all of you to ransom. For three years now, you have been held hostage to the inflexible demands of your leaders and their unwillingness to compromise. They issue demands which, I fear, the Israeli Government will never meet. My son's fate is the means through which your leaders distract your attention from the destruction they have brought upon you. Is this humane? Are these the acts of an honorable regime?

People of Gaza - Do not ignore the root cause of our mutual suffering. You know that the injustice done to my son was the trigger for war. You also know that the release of my son is the key to peace and the lifting of the Israeli commercial blockade. A small gesture and a little effort on both sides can relieve the misery of many."

To the Hamas scumbags holding his son he said:

"...release my son. You have the power to act with grace. Do it for the respectability that you wish the international community to accord you. Do it because you see yourselves as statesmen acting with humane intent. Do it for the sake of the respect you say you show this mission. Do it not for gain but do it, I beg you, because it is the just and right thing to do. But most important of all, do it for the peace and welfare of your own people."

To Noam Shalit I say this: Your devotion to your son stands in great contrast to the terrorists that hold him. While you have petitioned and prayed for his release, Hamas encourages their sons to kill themselves in the act of killing innocent children. The love a father holds for the life of his son is alien to them. Hamas is a culture of death, not mercy or humanity. I cannot imagine the insufferable pain you are experiencing. We will continue to pray for his release, and the restoration of your family.

Chazak! Chazak!

Epilogue: JPost reports that Hamas broadcast an animated movie making fun of Shalit, begging a Palestinian boy to release him.