On Saturday, 21.3.09, Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit will have been held by his captors in an unknown location, probably in the Gaza Strip, for 1,000 days. The circumstances of his capture and the behavior of his captors clearly indicate that he is legally a hostage.

International humanitarian law absolutely prohibits taking and holding a person by force in order to compel the enemy to meet certain demands, while threatening to harm or kill the person if the demands are not met. Furthermore, hostage-taking is considered a war crime and all those involved in itbear individual criminal liability.

The leadership of Hamas is obligated to release Shalit immediately and unconditionally. Until he is released, those holding him must grant him humane treatment and allow representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit him.  

The denial of Shalit's right to these visits constitutes a blatant violation of international law, and casts a heavy shadow over claims that Shalit's wellbeing has been maintained.