In the first sign of life from captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, he said in an audio tape aired Monday that he was disappointed over the Israeli government's lack of interest in his fate.
The release of the tape followed an announcement by Hamas over a "positive surprise" regarding Shalit, exactly a year after his seizure.
Earlier, the Popular Resistance Committees' spokesman stated Shalit was alive. "Shalit is alive and in very good shape," Abu Mujahid said, "His health is good and he's stable. We are treating him according to our religion's instructions on how to deal with war prisoners." Abu Mujahid also said that Shalit does not need anything and was receiving good treatment.
Shalit, 20, was captured by Palestinian fighters in a cross-border raid into Israel from the Gaza Strip on June 25, 2006. He has not been seen or heard from since he was captured.
Meanwhile, Al-Qaeda number two Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri warned against any offensive to wrest control of the Gaza Strip from the Palestinian Islamic Resistance movement, Hamas, in an audiotape posted on the Internet on Monday.
Osama bin Laden's deputy voiced his support for Hamas, which seized Gaza 10 days ago. "Today we must suport the mujahedeen (Jihad warriors) in Palestine, including the Hamas mujahedeen despite all the mistakes made by their leadership," Zawahiri said in the recording.
"Unite with all the mujahedeen of the world against an offensive being prepared... which the Egyptians and Saudis will join in," he said.
