Remember the Lebanon war in 2006? Whilst most people know that its catalyst was the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah (from the Israeli side of the border), what is less well known is that Hamas also kidnapped an Israeli corporal Gilad Shalit around the same time.
Although Hezbollah subsequently murdered the two soldiers (their dead bodies were given back to Israel in return for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners), Gilad Shalit - remains a hostage of Hamas.
In over 900 days of captivity, Corporal Shalit has not been allowed any visitation rights, or even access to any humanitarian organisations. Despite repeated demands from the International Committee of the Red Cross Hamas has refused Corporal Shalit the most basic of human rights.
Hamas has flagrantly violated every aspect of international law including humane treatment of their prisoner, the right of the family to know about his well being and the refusal to permit any kind of humanitarian access.
In order to assist Corporal Shalit and to put pressure on Hamas to grant the Red Cross to access, Parliamentarians across Europe (co-ordinated by European Friends of Israel), are leading campaigns to highlight the case of Corporal Shalit and urge the Red Cross to step up its campaign. In London, senior Parliamentarian and Conservative Deputy Chairman, Alistair Burt MP has led a delegation of MPs from all parties (including James Arbuthnot, Alan Beith and Andrew Gwynne) to lobby the Red Cross to ensure that humanitarian access for Gilad Shalit remains high on their agenda.
It is an irony that Hamas, that is so keen to convince the world that it is a force to be negotiated with, is in reality behaving in a barbarous fashion and flagrantly flouting the most basic tenets of international law. Burning effigies of Corporal Shalit and barring even the Red Cross is symbolic of the activities of a terrorist organisation, not a movement that genuinely seeks a just settlement for the Palestinians.
Indeed, far from trying to make some moves towards peace, the Hamas leadership in Syria has declared that cease-fire will be end on 19 December. This means that Israeli towns like Sderot, which lie just outside Gaza will once again be subject to daily missile bombardment.
As we approach Christmas and Chanucah, let us thank those like Alistair Burt and others who are holding a candle for Corporal Shalit and by doing so are holding up a standard for humanitarian and civilised values everywhere. Who knows, their campaign and that of many others might help the Red Cross to gain the access that this Israeli hostage rightly deserves.
