Gilad Shalit news stories on Newser

Israel Frees Another 550 Palestinians

Matt Cantor — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 04:54:57 CST

Israel has set free another 550 Palestinian prisoners, completing the deal that secured the release of captured soldier Gilad Shalit . Thousands gathered at the former home of Yasser Arafat to celebrate alongside Palestinian officials. Most prisoners were directed to the West Bank; some 41 were sent to Gaza, and a...

Saudi Royal Offers $900K for Capture of Israeli Soldier

Rob Quinn — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 03:02:47 CDT

Israel's freeing of a thousand Palestinian prisoners in return for one captured soldier must have sounded like a pretty good deal to Prince Khaled bin Talal. The Saudi royal, brother of billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, has added $900,000 to a prominent Saudi cleric's offer of $100,000 to...

Gilad Shalit Healing After Isolation: Dad

Matt Cantor — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:51:30 CDT

Israel soldier Gilad Shalit is home and “happy,” but he’s still recovering from five years’ imprisonment, his father says. “In isolation,” Gilad “had no connection with his people, with his own language,” Noam Shalit told members of the media, including the Jerusalem Post . Lack of sunlight and mistreatment in captivity...

5 Years Later, Gilad Shalit Free

Rob Quinn — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 07:10:19 CDT

After more than five years as a Hamas captive in Gaza, soldier Gilad Shalit is back in Israel, a move that triggered the release of 477 Palestinian prisoners, the first wave of a total of 1,027 Palestinian prisoners being freed in exchange for the 25-year-old soldier, the Washington Post...

Israel to Free Bombers, Killers in Soldier Swap

Neal Colgrass — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 17:20:22 CDT

The founders of Hamas' militant wing. The organizer of a Jerusalem bombing that killed 15. A woman who lured a lovelorn Israeli teen to a Palestinian city to be murdered. All will be released in Israel's planned swap of Palestinian political prisoners for a single kidnapped Israeli solder, the New...

Captive Israeli Soldier Expected Home Tuesday

John Johnson — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:33:05 CDT

Assuming no last-minute hiccups, Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit will be back home on Tuesday after five years in Hamas captivity, reports AFP . On that day, Israel will release 450 Palestinian prisoners—another 550 will be released later—in exchange for Shalit's freedom. An additional 27 female prisoners will also be...

Israel Freeing 1K Palestinians to Bring Soldier Home

Rob Quinn — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 01:41:03 CDT

After more than five years as a captive of Palestinian militants, soldier Gilad Shalit will be home within days, the Israeli government says. Shalit, now 25, was 19 when he was captured during a cross-border raid in 2006, and his captivity has long been an emotional issue in Israel. To...

Israel, Hamas Strike Deal to Free Israeli Soldier

Matt Cantor — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:37:26 CDT

Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement that would see hundreds of Hamas prisoners released in exchange for an Israeli soldier's freedom. Benjamin Netanyahu went on national TV before a Cabinet vote to announce that Gilad Shalit, who was captured more than five years ago, would be free "in the...

Israel, Hamas Close to Schalit Prisoner Swap Deal

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 06:39:47 CST

A deal to swap 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for Sgt. Gilad Schalit, the 23-year-old Israeli who's been held by Hamas for 3 1/2 years, appears close after a whirlwind of negotiations between Hamas and the Israeli government. After a late-night session, Israel has reportedly replied to a Hamas offer conveyed...