Corporal Gilad Shalit reaches Israel

Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit, who spent over 5 years in a Palestinian prison, has arrived in Israel. The Egyptian military are handing the soldier to Israel, RIA Novosti reports.

Turkey will receive 10 Palestinians released by Israel on Tuesday. They are expected to arrive in Istanbul.
Shalit was captured by the Palestinian forces on June 25, 2006. An Israeli officer and two other servicemen died trying to rescue the corporal. Two militants were also killed. Islamists demanded over a thousand Palestinian prisoners to be released, including militant leaders, women and children, in exchange for the Israeli serviceman.

Israel and HAMAS reached a deal on October 11. Israel agreed to release 1027 Palestinians, including 27 women. They will be released in two stages. The first group will consist of 477 convicts (287 of them sentenced for life) and will be released soon after Shalit arrives. The rest will be released in two months. 40 Palestinians will be deported to the Western Bank of Jordan River and Gaza Sector, 163 locals from the Western Bank – to Gaza.

Turkey has been urging release of Palestinians since 2006. A HAMAS leader, Haled Mashaal gave Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu a phone call and informed him about realization of a deal on exchange of the Israeli soldier for the Palestinians. He thanked Ankara for support in their release.