Protesters urge EU to seek release of Israeli soldier

(BRUSSELS) - Some 800 people demonstrated outside the EU headquarters in Brussels Thursday urging the bloc to help secure the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit who was captured by Hamas three years ago.

"This isn't a protest, it's a human chain of solidarity for a young man kidnapped three years ago and who should at least be treated according to international law," said Maurice Blibaum, head of the Belgian support group for Shalit.

Blibaum said he had a one-page letter written by Gilad's father Naom Gilad for the EU commission president Jose Manuel Barroso demanding the soldier's release.

He added that he had received assurances that Barroso, who was not in Brussels, would "reply to the parents".

Shalit, now 22, was snatched by militants from Hamas and two smaller groups who had tunnelled out of Gaza on June 25, 2006, and attacked an army post, killing two other soldiers.

The captive, a corporal who has since been promoted to sergeant, is believed to be held somewhere inside the Gaza Strip, which has been run by Hamas since the Islamist movement seized power in the Palestinian enclave two years ago.

In a speech to supporters, Blibaum stressed that Shalit, who is also a French national, had been allowed no visitor, not even for medical reasons.

"No news has got out except one letter to his parents transmitted thanks to the efforts of French President Nicolas Sarkozy" via the Qatari emir, he added.

Arguing that "the population of Gaza is also paying the price," for the kidnapping he called on Hamas to "show humanity and allow a medical visit".

Among the crowd in Brussels were the Israeli and French ambassadors.

Before dispersing the protesters briefly formed a human chain and released red, white and blue balloons.