Abu Mojahed, the spokesman of PRC, said in a press statement on the fourth anniversary of kidnapping Shalit that “while the Israeli government stalled and played for time, and went back on understandings which nearly led to a deal, we — through the German mediators and others — have demonstrated appropriate flexibility.”

Abu Mojahed warned, “If the Israeli government’s continues its conduct, Shalit will be close to becoming Ron Arad No. 2 than to return to this family.” Friday marks four years since Shalit has been held in Hamas captivity.

“We have transferred letters from the soldier and shown him on video, but it appears that the enemy’s government has failed to comprehend and internalize these messages and had no appreciation for our initiative,” said Abu Mojahed.

With regard to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent statement that the government was “examining other ways” for Shalit’s release, the PRC spokesman clarified: “There will be no other way to release Shalit apart from accepting our demands. The Israeli government is thwarting the deal, misleading the public and causing the family to suffer. They’re the ones responsible for Shalit being here for the past four years, and he may stay here much longer.”

He called on the Israeli public to pressure the government to agree to a prisoner exchange deal which will see the captive release.

Abu Mojahed said that the PRC is aware of Netanyahu’s stance, that Israel will not release the “heavy” prisoners to their homes.

“My answer is simple,” he clarifies. “Shalit will stay here with us and we’ll continue to guard him as we have done in the past four years.”

On the backdrop of recent reports that the prisoner exchange deal is “stuck” over 20 to 30 prisoners, Abu Mojahed clarified that the Palestinians must insist on these names at the price of delaying the release of more than 1,000 other prisoners.

Netanyahu is facing increasing pressure from Shalit’s family, Israeli academics and public figures to step up negotiations for the release of Shalit.

Israeli sources said that thousands of Israelis, among them national sports, culture, media and entertainment figures, will begin on Sunday a week-long protest march that will begin at the captive soldier’s family home Mitzpeh Hila in northern Israel and end at the prime minister’s official residence in Jerusalem.