Captured Israeli 'alive and well'

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Palestinian militants who captured an Israeli soldier a year ago say he is in good health and being well treated.

Cpl Gilad Shalit has not been heard from or seen since his capture on 25 June 2006 in a raid into Israel by Palestinian militants from Gaza.

"Shalit is alive and in very good shape," said Abu Mujahid, a spokesman for one of three groups linked to the militant Hamas group that captured him.

His father has blamed Israel's prime minister for not securing his release.

Noam Shalit said the embattled Ehud Olmert should step down if he failed to free Cpl Shalit by means of swapping detained Palestinians.

"It's the test of a leader," said Mr Shalit said at a rally marking the year's captivity on Sunday.

Hostage-taking is considered a war crime B'Tselem human rights group <a class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/5115092.stm">2006: Soldier seized in raid</a>

"If you do not know what to do, give your portfolio to someone who can bring about results immediately."

Israeli human rights group B'Tselem has meanwhile accused Cpl Shalit's captors of committing a war crime.

"International humanitarian law absolutely prohibits taking and holding a person by force in order to compel the enemy to meet certain demands, while threatening to harm or kill the person if the demands are not met," the group said.

"Furthermore, hostage-taking is considered a war crime," it added.

'Best treatment'

Abu Mujahid, of the Popular Resistance Committees, brushed off B'Tselem's accusation, saying he was a prisoner of war who had been captured inside a tank used to fight Palestinians.

"Any occupiers on the land are a legitimate target because they are soldiers," he said.

He added that Cpl Shalit was being treated according to Islamic law regarding prisoners of war.

"He doesn't need anything" and is receiving the "best treatment", he said.

Israel has agreed to a prisoner swap in principle, but has disagreed about the number and category of Palestinian prisoners to be freed.

Noam Shalit holds French citizenship and he says he will travel to Paris in July to raise the issue with French politicians.

Mr Olmert told the cabinet on Sunday the government had made "supreme efforts to win freedom for Gilad Shalit".