Hamas Releases Israeli Soldier Gilad Shalit After Five Years in Captivity

Strategic Insights -

The Palestinian militant group Hamas released Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit from more than five years in captivity on Tuesday, marking a significant breakthrough in the long-standing hostage crisis. As part of the deal, Israel handed over 477 Palestinian inmates to Egyptian security forces, who will then pass them to the Palestinian Authority. The release is seen as a major victory for Hamas, which had been negotiating with Israel for months. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is set to receive some of the freed inmates personally, while Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya welcomed them at the Rafah border crossing.

Key Takeaways:

  • Hamas released Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit after more than five years in captivity, marking a significant breakthrough in the hostage crisis.
  • Israel freed 477 Palestinian inmates from Israeli jails, with many serving long sentences for involvement in killing Israelis.
  • Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is set to receive some of the freed inmates personally at his compound in the West Bank.
  • Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya welcomed the freed inmates at the Rafah border crossing, highlighting the Islamist group's role in the deal.
  • The most notable Palestinian prisoner not being released in the deal is jailed lawmaker Marwan Barghouti, who is serving five life sentences for his role in planning attacks on Israelis during the second Intifada.
  • Longtime Palestinian Authority negotiator Saeb Erakat conceded that Hamas had succeeded in getting the prisoners released when the secular nationalist Fatah had not.
  • Israeli radio reported that over 1,000 police officers were deployed to ensure public order and the safety of the convoys.
  • The Israel Defense Forces declared areas connected to the handover to be closed military zones, barring the public from entering.

Statistics:

  • 477 Palestinian inmates were released by Israel as part of the deal.
  • 1,027 Palestinians are set to be released in two stages, with the second stage scheduled to take place later this year.
  • 500 people were polled by the Dahaf Polling Institute for the Yedioth Aharonoth newspaper, with 8 out of 10 Israelis supporting the swap for Shalit.
  • 50% of Israelis polled said that "the release of terrorists" would harm Israeli security, while 48% said it would not.
  • Gilad Shalit was held captive by Hamas for over five years, with no known contact from the outside world except a letter from his parents passed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal.

Sources:

  • CNN Jerusalem, CNN JERUSALEM
  • Israeli radio, Yedioth Aharonoth newspaper
  • Dahaf Polling Institute
  • Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas
  • Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya
  • Israeli prison authority, Sivan Weitzman
  • CNN Jerusalem, CNN JERUSALEM