Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, captured by Hamas and held in Gaza for more than five years, was freed Tuesday in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in the most lopsided prisoner swap in Israel’s history.
Looking thin and walking slowly, Shalit emerged from a pickup truck Tuesday under the escort of masked Hamas captors and was handed over to Egyptian mediators who helped arrange his release. The 25-year-old soldier, wearing a black baseball cap and gray shirt, was transferred to Israeli custody. He changed into uniform and was flown by military helicopter to an air base in central Israel to reunite with family.