An Israeli soldier captured last summer is in "good health," a Palestinian militant group said Tuesday.

"Gilad Shalit is in good health and is being treated according to Islamic standards of dealing with prisoners of war," said Abu Mujahid, spokesman for the Palestinian Resistance Committees.

Gilad Shalit is shown in an undated image released by his family.Gilad Shalit is shown in an undated image released by his family.
(Family handout/Associated Press)

The group is linked to the June 2006 cross-border raid in which Shalit was captured and two other Israeli soldiers killed.

Abu Mujahid said the soldier, who was 19 when he was taken, wouldn't be released until Israel released 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.

"We are ready to keep him for years so long as our demands are not met," Abu Mujahid said.

Shalit was taken after Palestinian militants crawled through a tunnel from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel and attacked an Israeli army post.

In response, Israel sent tanks and troops into Gaza, as Palestinians fired rockets at Israeli communities. About 400 Palestinians were reported killed during the conflict, along with six Israelis.

With files from the Associated Press