The parents of an Israeli soldier held
captive by militants in the Gaza Strip have received a letter from him,
pleading for them to do everything possible to secure his release, Israeli
media reported Monday night.
The letter from Gilad Shalit was relayed through the Carter Centre, the reports
said. It was the third sign of life from Shalit, after a letter released in
February, and an audio recording released last year.
Shalit, an Israeli army corporal, was snatched on June 25, 2006, during an
early-morning cross border raid launched by three militant groups from the Gaza
Strip.
Hamas, which is believed to be holding him, demands the release of hundreds of
Palestinian prisoners in exchange, but efforts to secure a prisoner swap,
mediated by Egypt, have so far not been realized.
Israel is currently demanding that Shalit be freed as part of a truce Cairo is attempting to negotiate between the Jewish state and the Gaza militant groups, dpa reported.