Noam Shalit, father of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, pointed out shortly after noon Monday that Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Mahmoud Abbas had a full year to try to free his son before Hamas took over authority over Gaza. He added that Abbas has not made any efforts to intervene on Shalit's behalf.

Noam Shalit also told Voice of Israel government radio that his son is no closer to being freed despite the three-week-old temporary ceasefire agreement that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said was tied to freeing the soldier.