PRESS RELEASE OF THE LAWYERS OF GUILDAD SHALIT    

On Sunday May 25, 2008, an event celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the State of Israel took take place in the garden of the Trocadero in Paris. In this occasion, one must not forget to remember Guilad Shalit, French citizen established in Israel has been captured on June 25, 2006 on Israeli soil by a Palestinian armed group affiliated by Hamas while he was doing his military service. He was nineteen years old. Since then, the Hamas requires to end his agony that hundreds of Palestinians prisoners are released. Thus, Guilad’s life, as the one of Ingrid Betancourt, is subject of bargaining. The abductors of Guilad Shalit never authorized anyone to visit him, neither representatives of the Red Cross, nor others from International Institutions or NGO, in total defiance of the International rules. According to information received by the family and lawyers of Gilad Schalit, he is still alive and still held in Gaza. 

Over the past few months and the establishment of a comprehensive strategy adopted by his family and French lawyers, the fate of Guilad aroused the interest of the Medias as well as of the international opinion: 

Many European and French parliamentarians have been mobilized more than three hundred so far;

The International media have been sensitized and public opinion has moved;

The Organizations of Defense of the Human Rights and NGOs are demanding the release of the hostage;

Press conferences making the situation were held on November 26, 2007 and February 26, 2008 at the French National Assembly and on March 5, 2008 in Tel Aviv; 

A press conference will soon be scheduled in Israel and the European parliamentarians will express their concern at a future event.

Call on the participants at the demonstration on May 25, 2008 to have a thought for Guilad Schalit,

Call on the French authorities, when discussions with Hamas appear to be possible, and European authorities to:

§                Spare no effort to secure the release of Guilad Schalit,

§                Take any appropriate measure against his captors,

§                Support the family of Guilad Schalit and its lawyers,

§                Call on the Israeli authorities, when the modalities of a possible cease-fire with Palestinian factions are discussed at: 

§                Posing as a condition of any agreement: the release of Gilad Schalit,

§                Delivering permits for the Lawyers of Guilad Schalit to enter Gaza in order to discuss with his captors.

§                Call on the Heads of State and Government in Europe, America, Asia, the Near and Middle East, Officials of the European Union and the Council of Europe, the United Nations and its General Secretary, International Institutions, Organizations for the Defense of Human Rights, the Churches and Religious Leaders, to:

§          Require the liberation of our fellow citizen Guilad Schalit   

CONTACTS : 

Emmanuel ALTIT – Stéphane ZERBIB

Avocats à la Cour45 Avenue de Friedland

75008 PARIS

Tel. : 01.45.61.10.32 – Fax. : 01.45.61.10.23 

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06.06.65.03.91

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06.65.13.33.88