Israeli soldier freed in exchange of the release of over 1,ooo Palestinian prisoners

Captured in 2006, Gilad Shalit was just 19 years when he was caught by the Hamas in a deadly cross-border fight. Sky News reports that three days afterhis capture, a huge military operation against Gaza was launched in a bid to secure his release. The operation – in which more than 400 Palestinian died and lasted five months – was unsuccessful.

Today aged 25, Shilat was finally released and taken across the frontier from the Gaza Strip into Egypt where he was handed over to Egyptian officials. He will be then transferred into Israel.

In return for the soldier’s release, Israel already freed 477 Palestinian prisoners and another 550 are due to be released. Media report that hundreds of them are now freed from life sentences imposed for killing Israelis.

Buses of Palestinian prisoners are now moving from Israel into Egypt en route to Gaza.

Sky News also reports that among the prisoners are Walid Anjas, who received 36 life sentences over a 2002 attack on a Jerusalem bar that killed 11 Israelis, and Nasr Yateyma, who was convicted of planning the 2002 Passover bombing which killed 29.