In this photo released by the Israeli Government Press Office, released Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit, meets his parents Noam, center, and Aviva, right, at Tel Nof Air base in southern Israel, Tuesday, Oct. 18. (AP Photo)
TEL NOF AIR BASE, October 18 (AP): Looking thin, weary and dazed, Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit emerged from more than five years in Hamas captivity on Tuesday, surrounded by Gaza militants with black face masks and green headbands who handed him over to Egyptian mediators in an exchange for 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. After a medical examination, Israeli officials said Schalit showed signs of malnutrition.
More than 450 Palestinians were transferred from Israeli prisons to the West Bank and Gaza, where massive celebratory rallies festooned with green Hamas flags were held. In Gaza City, tens of thousands crammed into a sandy lot where a huge stage was set up, decorated with a mural depicting Schalit’s capture in a June 2006 raid on an army base near the Gaza border. The crowd exhorted militants to seize more soldiers for future swaps.
The rest of the prisoners — about 550 more — are to be released in a second phase in two months. Before he was flown to an Israel air base where he reunited with his parents, Schalit spoke to Egyptian TV in an interview Israeli officials later called “shocking.” The gaunt, sallow and uncomfortable looking Schalit appeared to struggle to speak at times, and his breathing was noticeably labored as he awkwardly answered questions.
Still he said he felt good and was “very excited” to be going free. But the circumstances of his release, along with the awkward TV interview, raised questions about the conditions the 25-year-old had endured. Schalit, who had not been seen in public since his capture, was whisked across Gaza’s border into Egypt early in the morning by armed Hamas militants in an SUV, setting the swap into motion.
Wearing a black baseball hat and gray shirt, he was seen for the first time emerging from a pickup truck and turned over to Egyptian mediators by a gang of top Hamas militants, some with their faces covered in black masks with the green headband of the Qassam brigades — Hamas’ military wing. Among those around Schalit in those first moments was Ahmed Jabari, the shadowy head of Hamas’ militant wing, one of Israel’s most wanted militants.
Schalit, still escorted by Hamas gunmen, was then taken to a border crossing, where an Egyptian TV crew waited to interview him before he was finally sent into Israel. Stumbling over his words, he spoke in the interview of missing his family and friends, said he feared he would remain in captivity “many more years” and worried that the deal might fall through after learning about it last week. “Of course I missed my family. I missed friends, meeting people to talk to people, and not to sit all day, to do the same things,” he said.
More than 450 Palestinians were transferred from Israeli prisons to the West Bank and Gaza, where massive celebratory rallies festooned with green Hamas flags were held. In Gaza City, tens of thousands crammed into a sandy lot where a huge stage was set up, decorated with a mural depicting Schalit’s capture in a June 2006 raid on an army base near the Gaza border. The crowd exhorted militants to seize more soldiers for future swaps.
The rest of the prisoners — about 550 more — are to be released in a second phase in two months. Before he was flown to an Israel air base where he reunited with his parents, Schalit spoke to Egyptian TV in an interview Israeli officials later called “shocking.” The gaunt, sallow and uncomfortable looking Schalit appeared to struggle to speak at times, and his breathing was noticeably labored as he awkwardly answered questions.
Still he said he felt good and was “very excited” to be going free. But the circumstances of his release, along with the awkward TV interview, raised questions about the conditions the 25-year-old had endured. Schalit, who had not been seen in public since his capture, was whisked across Gaza’s border into Egypt early in the morning by armed Hamas militants in an SUV, setting the swap into motion.
Wearing a black baseball hat and gray shirt, he was seen for the first time emerging from a pickup truck and turned over to Egyptian mediators by a gang of top Hamas militants, some with their faces covered in black masks with the green headband of the Qassam brigades — Hamas’ military wing. Among those around Schalit in those first moments was Ahmed Jabari, the shadowy head of Hamas’ militant wing, one of Israel’s most wanted militants.
Schalit, still escorted by Hamas gunmen, was then taken to a border crossing, where an Egyptian TV crew waited to interview him before he was finally sent into Israel. Stumbling over his words, he spoke in the interview of missing his family and friends, said he feared he would remain in captivity “many more years” and worried that the deal might fall through after learning about it last week. “Of course I missed my family. I missed friends, meeting people to talk to people, and not to sit all day, to do the same things,” he said.
“Gilad, Home at last”
Dimapur, October 18 (MExN): Expressing a sigh of relief and happiness on the release of Gilad Shalit, the ambassador of Israel to Myanmar, Yaron Mayer, who is in Nagaland on a family visit told The Morung Express that “This is a very happy day for the Shalit family, all Israelis and also for peace seekers around the World. We are grateful to those who contributed to this breakthrough.” The ambassador expressed mix feelings of the high price paid for the deal. He emphasized that “This price demonstrates the value of human life in Israel and its commitment towards those who serve our nation.” The ambassador further added “We wish that our Palestinian neighbours will not misunderstand this goodwill and will take this day as an opportunity to come back to the negotiation table in order to finalise a peace agreement with Israel.” He pointed out that this could be the beginning of a new chapter between Israelis and Palestinians.”
Dimapur, October 18 (MExN): Expressing a sigh of relief and happiness on the release of Gilad Shalit, the ambassador of Israel to Myanmar, Yaron Mayer, who is in Nagaland on a family visit told The Morung Express that “This is a very happy day for the Shalit family, all Israelis and also for peace seekers around the World. We are grateful to those who contributed to this breakthrough.” The ambassador expressed mix feelings of the high price paid for the deal. He emphasized that “This price demonstrates the value of human life in Israel and its commitment towards those who serve our nation.” The ambassador further added “We wish that our Palestinian neighbours will not misunderstand this goodwill and will take this day as an opportunity to come back to the negotiation table in order to finalise a peace agreement with Israel.” He pointed out that this could be the beginning of a new chapter between Israelis and Palestinians.”
