Mr. Noam Shalit, the father of captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, will next week appear before the International Criminal Court of Justice in The Hague.

Shalit will be appearing on behalf of Israel in the case of Arab individuals charging Israelis with war crimes stemming from Operation Cast Lead, Israel’s counter-terrorism offensive in Gaza. Mr. Shalit will detail the nightmare that he and family members are living as a result of his son being held captive by Hamas for over three years.

Mr. Shalit’s appearance is his own initiative, and he will explain that his son is being held under harsh conditions, in violation of international law, not permitted any visitation, even from representatives of human aid organizations such as the International Red Cross. Officials point out that Shalit’s statements to the tribunal are his alone, not part of the legal defense prepared by the state in response to the case.

Mr. Shalit arrived in Rome on Tuesday to take part in a ceremony this week during which Gilad will receive honorary citizenship. Rome’s Mayor Gianni Alemanno met Mr. Shalit during his visit to Sderot. A bond formed leading to the ceremony this week. He will also be meeting with a number of elected officials and heads of Rome’s Jewish community towards assisting in efforts to achieve his son’s release. Mr. Shalit is expected to return to Israel before shabbos.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)