Gilad Shalit

October 18, 2011

Images of Gilad Shalit post-release

Reuters

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Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit returned home to a national outpouring of joy on Tuesday after five years in captivity as hundreds of Palestinian prisoners exchanged for him were greeted with kisses from Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip.

Shalit, 25, was taken across the frontier from the Gaza Strip into Egypt’s Sinai peninsula and driven to Israel’s Vineyard of Peace border crossing, where a helicopter awaited to fly him to an Israeli air base for a reunion with his parents.

Political commentators said it appeared unlikely the prisoner exchange agreed by the two bitter enemies would have any immediate impact on Israeli-Palestinian negotiations that broke down last year.

The mood in Israel was one of elation, with “welcome home” signs on street corners and morning commuters watching live broadcasts of the swap on cellular telephones.

Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit (C) is escorted by members of Hamas and Egyptian mediators on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing Oct. 18. Photo by REUTERS/Middle East News Agency (MENA)/Khalid Farid/Handout.

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Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit (C) is escorted by members of Hamas and Egyptian mediators on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing Oct. 18. Photo by REUTERS/Hand Out/HAMAS

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Gilad Shalit speaks to his family on the telephone in this handout released by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on Oct. 18. Photo by REUTERS/IDF/Handout.

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Gilad Shalit, center, salutes in front of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, upon his arrival at Tel Nof air base in central Israel in this handout released by the Israeli Government Press Office (GPO) on Oct. 18. Photo by REUTERS/GPO/Handout

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Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, greets Gilad Shalit at Tel Nof air base in central Israel in this handout picture released by the Israeli Government Press Office (GPO) Oct. 18. Photo by REUTERS/GPO/Handout

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Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, stands beside Gilad Shalit as he is hugged by armed forces chief Major-General Benny Gantz at Tel Nof air base in central Israel on Oct. 18. Photo by REUTERS/PMO/Handout

Gilad Shalit, right, is hugged by his father Noam at Tel Nof air base in central Israel in this handout released by the Israeli Government Press Office (GPO) on Oct. 18. Photo by REUTERS/GPO/Handout

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Gilad Shalit walks with his father Noam, right, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Ehud Barak at Tel Nof air base in central Israel, in a photo released by the Prime Minister’s Office on Oct. 18. Photo by REUTERS/PMO/Handout

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Israelis cheer as they watch a television broadcast showing Gilad Shalit, at a former protest tent calling for his release, near the residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Oct. 18. Photo by REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

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Israeli activists remove a sign counting the number of days since the abduction of Gilad Shalit, at a former protest tent calling for his release, near the residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Oct. 18. Photo by REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

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Gilad Shalit is seen next to his mother Aviva as they go for a short walk outside their home in Mitzpe Hila on Oct. 19. Photo by REUTERS/Nir Elias.

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Why, oh why, is it that in this great country of America, one cannot find ANY live video feed or any international news channel that broadcasts these events as they happen? The international news coverage in this country is pathetic and so substandard, no wonder Americans have a terrible reputation as having a total lack of understanding of international affairs.

Being from South Africa, the international news on tv there is far far superior.

Comment by GV on 10/18/11 at 11:31 am

BSD
Welcome home Sargeant Shalit!  We have always davened for you and remembered you and your family over this long, terrible ordeal.  We hope that you will feel well, completely well in good time and will know that world Judaism is behind you.  We bless you with strength and complete healing.  You, your family and your future.  we are so glad that you can sit in your own sukkah and at your own passover table this year and for many years to come.
Respectfully,
The Abrams Fmaily, valley village, ca

Comment by Cindy Abrams on 10/18/11 at 1:08 pm

BSD,
Welcome home dear Galid.Miracles happen all the time and this is another miracle. You are the Joseph of our era.
Daneshrad Family

Comment by Devorah Daneshrad on 10/18/11 at 2:32 pm

We are one people and we are blessed to see the day of your return to Israel.  Live fully the life that G-d had planned for you.

Comment by sharon Mitchell on 10/18/11 at 3:52 pm

Barookh Haba. Welcome home, Sargent Gilad Shalit. We want you to know that every day that you were in captivity by these animal Palastinians, we cried and rayed to G-d for your release. One Israeli soldier is not worth 1027 Palestinian prisoners, but he is worth more than 1,027,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 Palestinian Prisoners. You have shown the world that the Israeli soldiers are made of steel. They will not bow to bunch of cockroaches that they call themselves Palestinians. We had tears in our eyes when you were captured and now the tears in our eyes is out of happiness. Our prayers are answered. Thank G-d. Welcome Home again.

Comment by Massoud Termechi on 10/18/11 at 6:24 pm

Emaciated and white as a sheet. That look in his eyes in haunting. Gilad, I hope and pray for your complete emotional and physical healing, and I also hope and pray that Hamas is foiled in their attempts at kidnapping more Israelis, as they have stated they’ll do.

Comment by Rina on 10/19/11 at 11:45 am

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