Red Cross representatives have visited all the Palestinian women slated to be released in exchange for a one-minute video of Gilad Shalit at noon today. Marc Linning, who oversees the Red Cross division in charge of the welfare of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, told Ynet yesterday that the purpose of the visit was to check on the wellbeing of the prisoners; to ensure that they do not fear for their safety, and that they are returning home of their own accord. Released prisoners, he said, "sometimes experience harsher things outside of prison."
Asked why no Red Cross representative has been to see Gilad Shalit, Linning said that his situation was "entirely different".
In what way "entirely different"? Gilad Shalit is a prisoner; the Red Cross is represented in Gaza. Mr. Linning was not more specific.
On the front page of Haaretz yesterday there was a photo of armed Hamas "militants" in front of dozens of microphones announcing the deal to the media. Other than the narrowest of slits that barely revealed their eyes, the faces of the brave "militants" were completely covered by their masks.
Perhaps this has something to do with Gilad Shalit's situation being "entirely different".
The asymmetry of this exchange highlights yet again the total denial by Hamas of Gilad Shalit's most basic human right. In more than three years of captivity, no independent observer has ever been allowed to visit him. We can only keep the Shalit family in our thoughts today, as they wait anxiously to view the video and ready themselves, somehow, to contend with the latest development in their long ordeal.
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