Brussels, 12/03/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 11 March, the European Parliament called for the “immediate release of Sergeant Gild Shalit” and urges Hamas to be “as good as its word” and grant Sergeant Shalit rights and privileges in accordance with the Third 1949 Geneva Convention. Since being taken hostage, Sergeant Shalit (who holds French and Israeli nationality) has been held incommunicado in Gaza where he is deprived of basic rights in accordance with the Geneva conventions. Hamas has claimed responsibility for Sergeant Shalit's continuing detention and has declared that he is being held in accordance with the Third 1949 Geneva Convention.
In its resolution, Parliament deplores the continued disregard for Sergeant Shalit's basic human rights and the fact that his family and the Israeli and French authorities have been prevented from obtaining information regarding his wellbeing. It therefore urges Hamas to “allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit Sergeant Shalit without delay, and to permit him to communicate with his family in accordance with the Third 1949 Geneva Convention”. Parliament underlines the importance of “progress towards a two-state solution and welcomes the relaunching of proximity negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority”. Finally, it stresses that mutual trust-building measures by all sides, including a significant release of Palestinian prisoners, may help to create a “constructive atmosphere leading to the release of Sergeant Shalit”. (L.C./transl.jl)