The video is roughly 20 seconds long and at no point does it clearly show Shalit's face. At the end of the clip, accompanied by the sound of gunshots, text in Arabic scrolls across the screen saying: "Will the mission be completed?"

There is some debate among various news agencies as to the authenticity of the clip. Some news agencies have flat out refused to air it, believing it to be false, while others believe it to be genuine. Other still have suggested that while the clip may show actual footage of Shalit, it may not be current.

Watch the disputed clip and decide for yourself.

Gilad Shalit 24, is an Israeli soldier who was kidnapped by Hamas on 25 June 2006 in a cross-border raid.

Since his kidnapping, Hamas has refused requests from the International Committee of the Red Cross to allow the ICRC to visit Shalit on the grounds that any such visit could betray the location where Shalit is being held. Worldwide human rights organizations have stated that the terms and conditions of Shalit's detention are contrary to international humanitarian law, but still no progress has been made to secure his release.

In exchange for his release, Hamas demands the release of all female and underage Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, as well as a further 1,000 prisoners, a number of which are convicted by Israeli courts on terrorism charges.

The last authenticated video of Gilad Shalit was released by Hamas in 2009 and is the only contact Israel has received from Shalit other than three letters written by him and an audio tape released in June 2007.