Shalit audio tape released

June 25, 2007

An Israeli soldier captured a year ago by militants from Gaza speaks in an audio tape posted on the Internet. Hamas, one of three militant groups that claimed responsibility for the joint operation in which Shalit was seized, said earlier it would release the tape to mark the first anniversary of his capture. Negotiations to arrange a prisoner swap, brokered by Egypt have been suspended in recent months amid Palestinian internal fighting in the Gaza Strip, where Hamas now rules alone, and Israeli-Palestinian violence.