We, like the rest of the free world, are thrilled than BBC reporter Alan Johnston, held for four months as prisoner in Gaza, is now free. He is, quite obviously, worse for wear, but he is healthy, and safe.

But it also leaves us thinking about IDF Corporal Gilad Shalit, now in captivity in the same Gaza Strip for over a year. Johnston, according to this write up in the UK’s Guardian said he knew Hamas leadership pressured the kidnappers and were it not “for that pressure then I might have been left in that room for a lot longer.”

Indeed, Hamas Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar stated “Every kidnapping, every illegal behavior, we will fight with all our force, the force of law, the force of moral principles. Every Palestinian and every foreigner will be secure and safe regardless of their political beliefs.”

Which seems to show us that Hamas, which laid siege to the clan controlling the Army of Islam, and kidnapped some of their members to use as a bargaining chip, can, if it chooses do the same to secure Gilad Shalit’s release.

Sadly, they seem uninterested.

In NYC on July 16, a rally for all of Israel’s captured soldiers and MIA’s will be held. Johnston admitted to the elation he felt upon hearing of rallies to free him held in Jakarta and Beijing. We owe Jewish captives no less.

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