Shalit was the first Israeli soldier captured by Palestinian militants in 12 years, and the fate of the quiet, bespectacled teen gripped the country and its news outlets.

Large pictures of Shalit's boyish face appeared on the front pages of local newspapers. "Free Gilad," said the banner headline of Yediot Ahronot, the country's largest daily.

Military officials said members of elite brigades and armoured forces, backed by tanks, were sent to the frontier, where thousands of soldiers are regularly deployed.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni asked US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to press Abbas, the Palestinian president, to secure Shalit's release.

In Tel Aviv, the French Embassy confirmed the soldier holds French citizenship and said Paris was working to win his release.

Father makes emotional appeal

Shalit's family broke its silence on Monday to plead with his captors to treat him humanely and to remember he has a loving family who misses him dearly.

Noam Shalit broke his silence in a broadcast on Israel's Army Radio, speaking at length about his shy, introverted son.

When asked if he had a message to the captors, he replied: "It is important for me that he is treated well medically and that they treat him fairly that they remember he is a person," he said as his voice cracked with emotion. "We believe that whoever holds him has a family and knows what we are feeling."

In Gaza City, dozens of relatives of the 8,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons urged militants to hold Shalit until Israel agrees to a large-scale release of jailed Palestinians.

"Kidnap a soldier and free 100 in return," the crowd said. "Twist the Zionists' hands. Hope they can learn."

Source: China Daily