Hamas cartoon mocks captured Israeli soldier

Hamas TV in Gaza has broadcast a short animated movie mocking an Israeli soldier captured by the militant Islamic group three years ago.

Hamas TV in Gaza has broadcast a short animated movie mocking an Israeli soldier captured by the militant Islamic group three years ago.

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Israeli media played excerpts of the movie today. It depicts 22-year-old Israeli Sgt. Gilad Schalit chained to a jail cell wall pathetically pleading with a Palestinian boy to be set free.

The boy refuses, saying he has relatives in Israeli prisons.

Gaza militants captured the soldier in June 2006 after tunneling into Israel. Two other soldiers were killed in the attack.

Schalit has not been seen since, and Hamas has prevented the Red Cross from visiting him.

Egypt has been mediating attempts to arrange a swap of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners for the soldier.