BICOM

The prisoner exchange which will see kidnapped Israel Defence Forces soldier Gilad Shalit released from Hamas captivity in return for the freeing by Israel of 1,027 Palestinians convicted of terror offences commenced this morning. Shalit, 25, from Mitzpeh Hila in northern Israel, has been held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip since June 2006, without any access to the Red Cross or contact with his family. Late last night, the final barrier to the deal’s implementation was removed after Israel’s High Court of Justice rejected a number of petitions calling for the postponement of the deal. The first group of Palestinian prisoners to be released were taken this morning from their places of incarceration under heavy guard to two locations, depending on whether they are to be returned to the Gaza Strip or West Bank, or deported to other countries under the terms of the deal. As part of the first stage of the deal, 477 prisoners are set to be released today, with 550 more to be freed two months. Almost all the 477 prisoners being released in the first stage are serving lengthy sentences for the involvement in terrorism. They are responsible between them for the deaths of 599 Israelis.

Shalit is due to cross into Israeli territory at the Kerem Shalom Crossing from Sinai, at 10 am UK time. He will undergo a medical examination and will then be transferred to the Tel Nof air base, where he will meet with his family and greeted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Ehud Barak and IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz. Netanyahu is expected to give a short statement to the media before Shalit and his family are flown back to their home in Mitzpe Hila this afternoon.

The release of Gilad Shalit is leading to a major debate in Israel regarding the appropriate response to future kidnappings. While a majority of Israelis support the deal for his release, there is also concern and anguish regarding the freeing of the perpetrators of some of the most heinous terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians in recent years. Calls have been made for the implementation of legislation that will set clear guidelines to restrict how far  the government can go in all future negotiations of this type. However, given the strength of public sentiment in Israel regarding the paramount obligation to repatriate captive soldiers, alive or dead, there is widespread scepticism of the viability of any such legislation. 

Further reading

BICOM Briefing: The Gilad Shalit deal (initial assessment of why the deal is happening and its implications).

BICOM Briefing: the mechanics of the Shalit deal