Hamas parades mock Gilad Shalit before crowd of thousands in Gaza

[Behind the Aegis]

Hamas paraded a mock-captive Israeli soldier before thousands of supporters during a rally Sunday to celebrate the militant group's 21st anniversary.

The mock-soldier, was dressed in an Israel Defense Forces soldier uniform and stood before the crowd begging in Hebrew to be returned home.

"I miss my Mom and Dad," said a Hamas loyalist, in a clear reference to captured IDF soldier Gilad Schalit, seized by Hamas-backed Palestinian militants in June 2006. Egyptian-mediated negotiations to exchange Schalit for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners have repeatedly foundered.

"For those who made my children swallow a bitter drink, you will drink from the same cup," intoned a voiceover.

Sunday's rally was another show of strength by the Islamic militants who have ruled Gaza since a violent takeover in June 2007. The arena can hold about 150,000 people and is full, with more people spilling out into the streets. Many Hamas supporters wore baseball caps in the movement's Islamic green.

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[IndianaGreen]

1. Shalit must be released at once!

As Colombia's FARC has found out the hard way, keeping hostages hurt the hostage takers and their cause more than it does the hostages. Taking hostages is counterrevolutionary!

I hope that Shalit's family is not subjected to the same disgusting spectacle and indignities that Hizbollah subjected the families of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. :puke:

[LeftishBrit]

5. Fully agree

[azurnoir]

6. Agreed Shalit must be released

[Vegasaurus]

2. Then they should quit complaining about their misery

If the Palestinians support terrorists, then they deserve their misery.

Their misery would end in the minute if they renounced terrorism and accepted Israel.

Only they have control over their fate.

[IndianaGreen]

3. Israel's Occupation is 24/7 terrorism on the Palestinians

Had Israel done to Americans what they have done to Palestinians, we would be hailing as patriots every suicide bomber and carving their names on Stone Mountain for posterity.

[LeftishBrit]

4. Many Palestinians support Hamas, but many do not

Would you also say that Americans as a whole deserved the world's hostility because they elected Bush?

'Their misery would end in the minute if they renounced terrorism and accepted Israel.'

They need to do both these things. It is ONE of the necessary steps toward a peace deal. However, I disagree that the misery would end 'in a minute' or that this is *all* that is needed. For some Israelis, that would be all that would be needed to end the occupation and agree to a peace deal; for some it wouldn't (what about the RW settlers, to take an extreme case?); and it would take much more than a minute for it to be all sorted out.