On Friday, authorities completed the exchange deal in which a video proving that kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit is still alive was swapped for the freedom of 20 female Palestinian Authority terrorist prisoners who were jailed in Israel. Vehicles from the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) took the female prisoners to freedom in Judea, Samaria and Gaza once the Shalit video was handed over by Hamas terrorists.
Israeli negotiator Haggai Hadas watched the video after receiving it from Hamas. Copies of the video have been taken to the Shalit family and to the Prime Minister and were aired on Israeli TV. According to Arutz Sheva's Hebrew service, Shalit appears to be healthy and is talking clearly. He is clean shaven, his hair is well-groomed.
The video can also be viewed here.
The videotape lasts 2:42 minutes and shows Shalit sitting on a plastic chair, holding a newspaper from September 14 and reading a written text with a level tone and a shy half-smile.
He sends his love to his family, and says: "I have been hoping and waiting for a long time for the day I will be released. I hope that the current government, headed by Binyamin Netanyahu, does not now lose the opportunity for sealing the deal and as a result that I will be able at last to fulfill my dream and go free."
Hamas Television was broadcasting victory songs Friday morning as a preliminary phase of a deal for the release of Shalit took place.
The deal involves the release of 20 female terrorist prisoners from Israeli jails, in return for a one minute video of Shalit talking.
Hamas TV also exhorted the public in Gaza to participate in celebrations of the prisoners' release after the Friday prayers.
At about 9:30 am, vehicles belonging to the Nachshon prison security unit began transporting the female prisoners from the Hadarim jail north of Tel Aviv to Ofer prison near Jerusalem and Shikma prison in Ashkelon. At the same time, Red Cross vehicles arrived at the jails. After the security establishment gave the go-ahead, the one terrorist being released to Gaza were handed over to the Red Cross at the Erez crossing, and the 18 others who are being released to Judea and Samaria were handed over to the Red Cross at the Bitunia checkpoint.
The Head of IDF's Personnel Branch flew by helicopter to the Shalit family's home in Mitzpeh Hila in the Galilee, where he was presented them with a copy of the tape.