The terrorists dug underneath the border from Gaza, emerged on the Israeli side and subsequently sprayed automatic fire and grenades toward Shalit's tank which had been on patrol. Two IDF soldiers Pavel Slutsker and Chanan Barak were killed in the attack, three others were wounded and Shalit, wounded as well, was abducted and forced back into Gaza.
Immediately following the attack, the IDF released the following statement:. Today, Sunday, June 25, , the 29th of Sivan, during an infiltration and attack by terrorists to the area around the Kerem Shalom crossing [from Israel to Gaza], an IDF officer and soldier were killed, another soldier was kidnapped and four more were injured.
At AM, a squad of terrorists from the Hamas and Popular Resistance Committee organizations, infiltrated into Israeli territory in the area of the Kerem Shalom and Sufa border crossings through a tunnel that was dug from the area of Rafah. The terrorists, under cover of mortar and anti-tank missile fire, attacked a number of military targets, among them a tank.
IDF forces immediately responded in force, from which at least two of the terrorists were killed. This terror attack was perpetrated with help from Hamas generals and had the go ahead from the Hamas leadership. The IDF subsequently holds the Palestinian Authority and the Hamas as responsible for this dastardly attack and for the fate of the kidnapped soldier.
The operation, though, was unsuccessful; within a matter of weeks the Hezbollah abduction of soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev turned Israel's attention away from Gaza to its northern flank. The Israeli government initially stated that it would not negotiate for the release of Shalit, but international intervention from Egypt , Germany and the European Union attempted efforts to work out an exchange deal. In October , Hamas released a short video clip in which Shalit could be seen holding a daily newspaper and reading a written message that called on Prime Minister Netanyahu to do everything in his power to free him.
In June , the International Red Cross called on Hamas to provide further proof that Shalit was still alive but the group balked at the request.
On August 28, - Shalit's twenty-fifth birthday and sixth in captivity - Shalit's parents released a letter they hoped would reach Gilad.
In the letter, the parents wrote, "You must believe that we do not forget you, we do not forget the fact that next Sunday you will be 25 years old, that this is your sixth birthday in captivity, that more than a fifth of your young life has been spent in a dungeon, a Hamas pit. On September 7, , U. On October 11, , Prime Minister Netanyahu announced the signing of an exchange deal for the release of Shalit. Assembeled through German mediators and the Egyptian government, the deal stipulated that Israel would release 1, Palestinian prisoners in a staggered move over the coming months.
The Government approved the agreement by a large majority with 26 ministers voting in favor and 3 against. PM Netanyahu said: "This is a difficult decision to make, but a leadership is examined in moments like these, in its ability to make difficult decisions.
In the early afternoon of October 18, , Shalit was set free and returned to Israel after 1, days in Hamas captivity. Preliminary medical and psychological exams were performed on Shalit at an IDF base in the south of the country and he was deemed healthy and strong enough to meet his parents and travel home.
He was also promoted to the rank of sergeant first class. He was released in a controversial exchange that saw Israel free 1, Palestinian security prisoners. You get Israel news Here's your chance to understand not only the big picture that we cover on these pages, but also the critical, juicy details of life in Israel.
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