Israel Prisoner Gilad Shalit Freed

Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was freed from five years’ captivity on Tuesday morning in exchange for the release of 477 Palestinian prisoners. An additional 550 detainees will be released next month. Shalit was taken to the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt before being handed over to Egyptians in front of Israeli representatives. The Israeli Supreme Court rejected a last-minute appeal on Monday for a 48-hour delay from families of victims attacked by Palestinian militants. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu penned a letter to the families expressing his condolences. As Hamas prepared to welcome 295 prisoners back to Gaza, its interior minister urged residents “to refrain from using weapons and ammunition to express their joy.”