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Captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit - Source: Reuters -
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An Israeli soldier held captive for the past three years by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas smiled briefly and looked healthy in a two-minute Hamas video handed over to Israel on Friday.
Gilad Shalit, abducted in 2006, was shown holding up a copy of
the Arabic-language newspaper "Palestine" dated September 14, in a
classic "proof of life" gesture by Hamas in return for the release
of 20 Palestinian women from prison in Israel.
Wearing olive fatigues and seated in a plastic chair against a
white background, the 23-year-old soldier read out a statement in
Hebrew. His voice was subdued but he appeared calm and healthy. He
was clean-shaven and his hair was trimmed.
In the video, released to broadcasters, he said he was being "treated excellently" by his captors.
"I have been hoping and waiting for a long time for the day I will be released, and hope that the current government headed by Benjamin Netanyahu will not now waste the opportunity to conclude the deal," he said.
He peered over the blue-bannered top of the newspaper as the camera zoomed in for a close-up to show the masthead and date.
Cheers for prison baby
The video was handed over in exchange for Israel's release of
Palestinian women serving jail terms under two years.
One prisoner, the only one released to Gaza, brought home a 20-month-old boy born in prison.
Hundreds of people waving the green Hamas flag, the black
banners of Islamic Jihad and Palestinian national colours joined a
vehicle convoy as it entered Gaza City, sirens blaring.
The baby was snatched from Fatima al-Zaq's arms in a media frenzy
and borne overhead to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who held him up
wailing in front of the crowd.
"We feel wonderful," said her husband Mohammed, a member of
Islamic Jihad. "People are celebrating with us, from all factions
... the prisoners' release unites us."
There were also welcome parties in the West Bank, run by Hamas's
rival Fatah, as the factions briefly set aside their struggle for
control of the Palestinian national movement.
President Mahmoud Abbas, of Fatah, greeted the women with flowers.
And in Gaza, Haniyeh told the crowd welcoming Fatima and Youssef
al-Zaq: "I see the Palestinian people today united behind this
step." He said he hoped the swap would be "a step on the way
to freeing our men and women prisoners from occupation jails (and)
a step towards Palestinian reconciliation".
Netanyahu "encouraged"
The exchange with Hamas, brokered by German and Egyptian
diplomacy, is seen as a step towards a major Palestinian prisoner
release and freedom for Shalit, priorities for both sides since his
capture in a cross-border raid in June 2006.
"Although the path to his release is still long and difficult, the
knowledge that he is healthy encourages us all," Netanyahu was
quoted as saying by his spokesman Nir Hefetz.
"The prime minister believes the video is important because it
confirms Gilad Shalit's condition and places total responsibility
for Gilad's well-being on Hamas," Hefetz added.
Many Palestinians have relatives or friends among the more than
10,000 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel; and many Israeli families
whose sons and daughters serve in the conscript army identify
readily with Shalit's parents.
Shalit served in a tank unit and was captured when Hamas gunmen
tunnelled into Israel from Gaza and killed two of his fellow
soldiers. Two attackers were also killed.
"I want to send regards to my family and to tell them that I love
them and miss them very much and yearn for the day that I will see
them again," he said in the video.
Referring to a photograph his family could quickly identify, he
asked if his father and two brothers "remember the day you arrived
at my base on the Golan Heights on 31-12-2005".
"We did a tour around the base and you photographed me on a
Merkava tank," Shalit said. "I want to tell you that I am feeling
well in terms of health and that the mujahideen from the
Izz-el-Deen-al-Qassam brigades are treating me
excellently.
Shalit's parents had until now had received only a few letters and
an audio tape from their son, who has not been allowed Red Cross
visits. They have campaigned unrelentingly for his freedom but made
no statement on Friday.
Israeli officials said the video was authenticated before the
women were freed, in a choreographed exchange. A convoy of Red
Cross jeeps took 18 of the women over the Beitunya checkpoint into
the West Bank.
The final prisoner in the swap was due to go home on
Sunday.
In exchange for Shalit, Hamas is seeking the release of hundreds
of prisoners, including militants convicted of deadly attacks, whom
Israel has said in the past it will not set free.
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