Foreign Minister Tzipi Livi met with Red Cross President Jacob Kellenberger on Thursday and asked him to insist that his group be allowed to visit kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. In a separate meeting, Livni told United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that the Israeli government is obligated to secure Shalit's release.
Livni did not decisively state that Shalit's release should be part of a ceasefire deal in Gaza, but said Israel has the responsibility to remind the world of Shalit's plight.
In her meeting with Kellenberger, Livni said the Red Cross has access to every prisoner on earth, “but here there is a terror organization which is denying this access.” Despite the Red Cross's reluctance to pressure Hamas, the group must insist on seeing Shalit, she said.
No international agency has been allowed to see Shalit since the young soldier was kidnapped while patrolling near Gaza in June of 2006. His captors have not sent pictures or video images of Shalit, but have released letters supposedly written by him.
Kellenberger met with Livni during a visit to Israel to assess the situation in Gaza, which has seen weeks of heavy fighting since the beginning of the Cast Lead operation. Israel is holding its fire for three hours each day to allow humanitarian organizations to assist local civilians, but many groups complain that the time is insufficient.
In her meeting with Kellenberger, Livni said Israel was doing what it could to avoid harming Gaza's civilian population. Israel continues to allow supplies into Gaza via western Negev crossings, she pointed out.
Despite concern for Gaza's civilians, Livni expressed determination to continue with Cast Lead, saying, “Nevertheless, we also expect the Red Cross to understand the plight of Israeli citizens living under the threat of terror.... This situation must change.”