Gilad Shalit salutes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after prisoner exchange deal in Oct. 2011. Photo: wiki commons.

Hamas began a week long celebration to mark the anniversary of the Gilad Shalit deal, which led to the release of 1,087 Palestinian prisoners, many of which were responsible for Israeli deaths, on October 18th, 2011, and vowed to kidnap more Israeli soldiers in order to free Palestinian prisoners.

“The release of prisoners is a must for all the Palestinian people,” a Hamas minister said while opening the ceremonies marking the anniversary. “The Occupation only understands the language of force. Resistance forced  them to release the prisoners. The resistance fighters will capture additional occupation troops to hold their promise to prisoners.”

Shalit was kidnapped by Hamas inside Israel in June of 2006 and held captive for nearly 5 years.