Army examines kidnapping protocol

The army is set to revise the Hannibal protocol, a procedure that stipulates that the abduction of a living Israeli soldier must be prevented at all costs. Since the return of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for the release of 1027 Palestinian prisoners, Hamas has said it will continue to kidnap more soldiers until all Palestinian prisoners incarcerated in Israel are released. Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen Benny Gantz has instructed commanders to examine ways to thwart kidnappings even at the expense of a soldier's life. The Hannibal protocol became official in the 1980's and states that soldiers must prevent the abduction of a living soldier at all costs including opening fire on the abductors' vehicle. The protocol takes into account that the captive soldier may be killed in such instances and upholds the belief that a dead soldier is preferable to a kidnapped soldier and will prevent Israel from paying a heavy price for the captive.