It is a war crime to keep a soldier prisoner without any contact by the Red Cross or international organizations to check on the prisoner’s health and well-being. Not that a terrorist organization is bound by any rules of morality and ethics, but it’s good to remind the world that Hamas treats Israelis despicably, so that one can point to the difference between Hamas prisoners in Israeli jails, and Israeli prisoners in Hamas hands.
Hamas is denying yet again that they are willing to prove that Gilad Shalit is alive in order to foster a deal.
Hamas leaders denied Tuesday reports saying there was progress concerning a possible prisoner swap deal that would include Gilad Shalit, adding that it also did not agree to relay messages between the kidnapped soldier and his family in Israel.
Red Cross representatives in Gaza said the Islamist group agreed to pass on a letter from Shalit, but a senior member of the organization told Ynet, “There is no concrete discussion on anything, but if a fair and worthy exchange is put on the table, we will be willing to consider any offer.”
According to him, Hamas would agree to show signs of life from Shalit or discuss the possibility of a meeting between the kidnapped soldier and neutral party in return for the release of “hundreds of prisoners – not just one or two.
Of course, if Shalit is dead, then there’s good reason for Hamas to keep playing these head games.