Addressing a Herzliya assembly on Tuesday night, Noam Shalit, the father of soldier Gilad Shalit, once again called on the Government of Israel to include his son’s release in any renewal agreement for another ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza.

Shalit stated that in the past, he and other urged Defense Minister Ehud Barak to include his son’s release as a condition for the first ceasefire, but Barak stated with confidence this was not the case and the ceasefire would significantly facilitate obtaining Gilad’s release.

Since then, a number of senior officials including members of the intelligence community have stated the situation vis-à-vis obtaining Gilad’s release is signicantly more complicated today than it was six months ago prior to beginning the ceasefire.

On Tuesday night, 913 kvitlach were placed in the Kosel marking the number of days Gilad is captive, and the menorah was lit marking the third night of Chanukah as Gilad Shalit’s light in the hope he will soon return home.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)