The debate surrounding the release of Hamas prisoners in exchange for captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, took another form Thursday morning as holiday parcels for prisoners were passed over the border. Israel Prison Service officials delayed transferring the parcels from the Gaza Strip to Palestinian prisoners jailed in Israel at the behest of the Organization of Victims of Terror in Israel.

Noam Shalit, the kidnapped soldier’s father, arrived at Erez Crossing Thursday together with members of the Shalit campaign, most of them from the Kibbutz Movement, in order to hold a ceremonial holiday parcel exchange across the border.

Noam Shalit at Erez Crossing Thursday (Photo: Tsafrir Abayov)

A parcel put together especially for Gilad Shalit was sent over the border to the Gaza Strip after it made a long journey throughout Israel, including to the Western Wall. In exchange, family members of Palestinian prisoners sent over 100 parcels intended for their loved ones in Israeli jails.

The Israeli activists were ordered by defense officials to leave the area after receiving alerts about potential shooting attacks from the Gaza Strip. This, however, was not the only issue overshadowing the mutual goodwill gesture.

After the parcels were swapped, the Organization for Victims of Terror in Israel submitted a request to the IPS to prevent the parcels from being passed on to the Palestinian prisoners. IPS officials notified Yoel Marshak, who chairs the Headquarters for the Release of Gilad Shalit, that they could not give the prisoners their parcels until the issue was sorted out.

“I am acting on a national mission, and not as a private person,” said an irate Marshak. “We transferred a parcel to Gilad Shalit and received these parcels. I think we should uphold our commitment. It is unthinkable that I should have to store the parcels in my home until the issue is sorted out.”

The haredi community in Jerusalem also enlisted in the fight for Gilad’s release. Haredi media outlets published calls Thursday “to pray for the wellbeing of Gilad son of Aviva,” in hopes for his speedy release. Sources within the haredi community noted that this effort is the counterpart to the Gilad’s Army of Friends internet campaign, but that the haredi version is being carried out via telephone for halachic reasons.