Negotiate with Hamas – Object Lesson

The Kidnapping of Gilad Shalit
Early on Sunday morning, 25th June 2006, Shalit was captured by Palestinian militants who attacked an Israeli army post on the Israeli side of the southern Gaza Strip border after having crossed through an underground tunnel near the Kerem Shalom border crossing. During the morning attack, two Palestinian militants as well as two IDF soldiers were killed and three others wounded, aside from Shalit, who himself suffered a broken left hand and a light shoulder wound.

Hamas Demand No. 1
Shalit's captors issued a statement on Monday, 26th June 2006, offering information on Shalit if Israel agreed to release all female Palestinian prisoners and all Palestinian prisoners under the age of 18.
Hamas Demand No. 2
On 1st July, Shalit's Palestinian captors issued another demand to the Israelis, asking them to free 1,000 Palestinian prisoners (in addition to all women and young prisoners as previously demanded) and to end Israel's incursion into Gaza (Efforts to locate and rescue Shalit).
Hamas Demand No. 3
On 3rd July, the captors issued a 24-hour ultimatum for meeting their demands, threatening unspecified consequences if Israel refused to release the prisoners as demanded (Which demand, I mean, you'd have to move quick to keep up wouldn't you?).

Hamas Offer No. 1
On 4th January 2007, Hamas offered to give Israel a videotape proving that Shalit is still alive if Israel released all Palestinian women and children from Israeli prisons. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert rejected Hamas's proposal. Shalit's father, Noam Shalit, seemed to agree with the government's response, stating on 7 January, "I want my son back, not a video or a letter."

Hamas Demand No. 4
On 7th April 2007, It was reported that the captors of Gilad Shalit have transferred to Israel, via Egyptian mediators, a list of Palestinian prisoners they want freed. The list includes approximately 1300 names some of which are high ranking Fatah members.

Hamas Demand No. 5
On 12th August 2008, Hamas noted that they are suspending talks on Shalit's release demanding a complete lifting of the Israeli siege.

Hamas Statements relating to Gilad Shalit
Statement 1:
On 9th January 2007, Abu Mujahed, a spokesman for the captors, asserted that Shalit "has not been harmed at all," going on to say, "He is being treated in accordance with Islamic values regulating the treatment of prisoners of war."

Statement 2:
On 11th January, 2009, Abu Marzuk, Deputy Chief of the Hamas Political Ministry, told the London-based Arabic daily Al-Hayat that:
"Shalit may have been wounded, and he may not have been. The subject no longer interests us. We are not interested in his well-being at all, and we are not giving him any special guard since he is as good as a cat or less".