Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks on as freed Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit is embraced by his father, Noam, at Israel’s Tel Nef Air Force base shortly after Shalit’s release from more than five years of captivity, Oct. 18, 2011. (GPO)
Palestinians in the West Bank city of Ramallah celebrating the return of the prisoners who were exchanged for Gilad Shalit, Oct. 18, 2011. (Arie Kuipers)
Gilad Shalit is greeted by cheering crowds as he finally returns to his family home in Mitzpe Hila, Israel after five years in captivity, Oct. 18, 2011. (IDF Spokesperson)
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Gilad Shalit was reunited with his family shortly after crossing into Israel from Egypt after his release earlier in the day by his captors in Gaza, ending five years and four months in captivity.
The Israel Defense Forces spokesman announced Shalit’s return at 11 a.m. Tuesday Israel time. Shalit arrived in Egypt approximately three hours earlier.
Images of Shalit walking were broadcast by Egyptian TV, and in an interview Shalit said he was treated well by his captors but that he missed family, friends and freedom. The IDF reported that Shalit is in good health.
After meeting with IDF officials and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Shalit was met by family members, and images of him embracing his father, Noam, were broadcast throughout Israel.
Shalit’s release came as Israel began transferring 477 Palestinian prisoners to the Red Cross as part of a swap deal between Israel and Hamas that will see the release of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. Eyewitnesses confirmed that some of the prisoners had begun entering Gaza.
Shalit’s family was waiting for him at the Tel Nof Air Force base, where he was to be taken after crossing into Israel.
Shalit had been held in Gaza since being captured by Hamas in a cross-border raid in June 2006.
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