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Second stage of Shalit prisoner exchange deal completed
Israel yesterday completed the second stage of the prisoner exchange deal that secured the release of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit in October. As part of the Egypt-brokered deal, Israel yesterday released 550 Palestinian prisoners, totaling 1027 prisoners in exchange for Shalit who spent five years in Hamas captivity in Gaza.
Most of the prisoners released yesterday had served the bulk of their sentences and none had life terms. The majority of prisoners returned to Ramallah in the West Bank, while 41 prisoners returned to Gaza, two to East Jerusalem and two to Jordan.
Following the release of the prisoners, Hamas threatened last night to attempt more soldier abductions to secure the release of further Palestinian prisoners. “This achievement will not be the end of the story… We will continue to work for the prisoners at whatever cost,” said Hamas spokesman Abu Ovadia in Gaza.
According to an Israeli defence official speaking to the Jerusalem Post, none of the inmates freed Sunday were members of Hamas or had “blood on their hands.”