Captured soldier Shalit returns to Israel after hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are released

[News_Editor]

Captured soldier Shalit returns to Israel after hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are released

2011-10-19 08:50:21 GMT+7 (ICT)

TEL AVIV (BNO NEWS) -- Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldier Gilad Shalit on Tuesday returned to Israel after spending more than five years in Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip. Israel freed hundreds of Palestinian and Israeli Arab prisoners to get Shalit back.

"Today Gilad Shalit returned from the military operation he left for on June 25, 2006. This very moment Gilad Shalit is stepping back into the State of Israel," IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yoav Mordechai said. Shalit arrived at the Israel Air Force base in Tel Nof where he was reunited with his family.

Shalit's family had been attempting for years to have contact with him but without avail. The only signs of life were three letters, an audio tape released a year after he was taken and a brief video broadcast on October 2, 2009.

Shalit's father, Noam, said that his son was suffering from a few minor injuries, including shrapnel wounds he sustained during his capture, but that he was in good health. He thanked the public and thousands of activists for all of their support and efforts to secure his son's release.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak greeted Shalit as he arrived at the air base. "A short time ago, I embraced him as he came off the helicopter and escorted him to his parents, Aviva and Noam, and I said, 'I have brought your son back home.' But this is also a hard day; even if the price had been smaller, it would still have been heavy."

On Monday, families of victims of terror attacks filed four petitions against the deal, claiming that it will serve to encourage future attacks. According to the terms of the deal, 477 prisoners were released on Tuesday while another 550 prisoners will be released within two months.

"I know very well that the pain of the families of the victims of terrorism is too heavy to bear. It is difficult to see the miscreants who murdered their loved ones being released before serving out their full sentences," Netanyahu said. "But I also knew that in the current diplomatic circumstances, this was the best agreement we could achieve, and there was no guarantee that the conditions which enabled it to be achieved would hold in the future."

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the prisoner exchange deal, calling it a "significant humanitarian breakthrough." A statement from his spokesman said that the Secretary-General hoped that more steps will be taken "to end the closure of Gaza and enable reconstruction."

All prisoners to be released as part of the deal are required to sign a document in which they pledge not to engage in terrorist activity in the future. Israeli officials previously said they will hunt down any released prisoners if they are found to have engaged in terrorism.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-10-19

[Steely Dan]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2050377/Gilad-Shalit-release-Malnourished-Israeli-soldier-faints-journey-home.html#ixzz1b9QqWkvE

The pictures in this link tell everything about the polar opposite value for human life shown by Israel and Hamas. Shalit was a soldier captured and held for five years against the Geneva convention, he looks like a walking skeleton, meanwhile look at the state of health of the Palestinian murderers released from Israeli jails. The press for the most part will ignore this as it does not fit their narrative of moral equivalence.

[chuckd]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2050377/Gilad-Shalit-release-Malnourished-Israeli-soldier-faints-journey-home.html#ixzz1b9QqWkvE

The pictures in this link tell everything about the polar opposite value for human life shown by Israel and Hamas. Shalit was a soldier captured and held for five years against the Geneva convention, he looks like a walking skeleton, meanwhile look at the state of health of the Palestinian murderers released from Israeli jails. The press for the most part will ignore this as it does not fit their narrative of moral equivalence.

A very good observation to advise all to look at the obvious health condition discrepancies between Shalit and the Palestinian prisoners.

The photos of the Daily Mail indicate an obvious difference.

[Wallaby]

Yes, it could be be because of Israel's embargo is having a detrimental effect on food getting into Palestine. Anyone have a 'before and after' photo?

By the way, do you know the names of all the Palestinians released? Just wondering why one would call them all murderers without providing any proof.

Oh that's right, just baiting with more nonsense and trying to get this thread closed.

Edited October 19, 2011 by Wallaby

[Wallaby]

He says he is in good health.

Speaking through a translator, Shalit said he was in good health and that he hoped his release in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons would lead to peace between the two peoples.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/gilad-shalit-visited-by-idf-medical-officers-in-morning-after-release-1.390934

[GentlemanJim]

http://www.dailymail...l#ixzz1b9QqWkvE

The pictures in this link tell everything about the polar opposite value for human life shown by Israel and Hamas. Shalit was a soldier captured and held for five years against the Geneva convention, he looks like a walking skeleton, meanwhile look at the state of health of the Palestinian murderers released from Israeli jails. The press for the most part will ignore this as it does not fit their narrative of moral equivalence.

Steely

Are you trying to tell us that the Geneva convention applies in this case? Are you sure about that?

Food and medicine are very difficult commodities to come by where he has been held, and you don't think for a minute that when it became available his captors put him at the front of the queue? In all honesty, with 5 years effective solitary confinement I think he looks in great health. I hope mentally he is as tough as he appears to have been physically.

I am delighted by the return of this young man to his family and hope that the Israeli's will stomp down quickly on any prisoners released who engage in acts of terrorism.

[chuckd]

You guys keep drinking that Kool Aide from Hamas.

[Colin Yai]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2050377/Gilad-Shalit-release-Malnourished-Israeli-soldier-faints-journey-home.html#ixzz1b9QqWkvE

The pictures in this link tell everything about the polar opposite value for human life shown by Israel and Hamas. Shalit was a soldier captured and held for five years against the Geneva convention, he looks like a walking skeleton, meanwhile look at the state of health of the Palestinian murderers released from Israeli jails. The press for the most part will ignore this as it does not fit their narrative of moral equivalence.

A very good observation to advise all to look at the obvious health condition discrepancies between Shalit and the Palestinian prisoners.

The photos of the Daily Mail indicate an obvious difference.

For a pretty accurate observation why not go on to youtube, Pat Condell "The great Palestinian lie " Edited October 19, 2011 by Colin Yai

[Payboy]

Err, here's Shalit before he was captured. Schwarznegger he's not.

[GentlemanJim]

You guys keep drinking that Kool Aide from Hamas.

Can you explain what anybody has said on this thread to warrant that remark?

[Scott]

Nobody seems to have said anything to warrant that remark, so I think we can drop that line of posting.

[hehehoho]

Err, here's Shalit before he was captured. Schwarznegger he's not.

Looks likes he's probably put on weight.

[Steely Dan]

Yes, it could be be because of Israel's embargo is having a detrimental effect on food getting into Palestine. Anyone have a 'before and after' photo?

By the way, do you know the names of all the Palestinians released? Just wondering why one would call them all murderers without providing any proof.

Oh that's right, just baiting with more nonsense and trying to get this thread closed.

You should know you are wrong on every count from sundry other threads. Firstly there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza as the red cross recently stated and the inhabitants of Gaza get more per capita aid than anywhere else on the planet to the extend that according to WHO statistics the women of Gaza are the third most obese on the planet, the men seventh. Fat chance of Shalit becoming obese it would appear

*edited out*

http://www.debka.com/article/21396/

Tuesday, Israel freed 477 Palestinian terrorists, including 230 multiple murderers serving several life sentences, the first batch of 1,027, Hamas' price for buying the release of Gilad Shalit after holding him captive for five years and four months from the day of his kidnap in a cross-border raid from Gaza.

Edited October 19, 2011 by Scott
inflammatory

[Steely Dan]

Steely

Are you trying to tell us that the Geneva convention applies in this case? Are you sure about that?

Food and medicine are very difficult commodities to come by where he has been held, and you don't think for a minute that when it became available his captors put him at the front of the queue? In all honesty, with 5 years effective solitary confinement I think he looks in great health. I hope mentally he is as tough as he appears to have been physically.

I am delighted by the return of this young man to his family and hope that the Israeli's will stomp down quickly on any prisoners released who engage in acts of terrorism.

I answered your point about supposed food shortages in Gaza in another post, but just for you here..

As for Geneva convention, let's just say the conditions of his capture and solitary confinement have been condemned by most civilised governments and humanitarian bodies so don't try a semantic argument as it doesn't wash.

[Payboy]

Err, here's Shalit before he was captured. Schwarznegger he's not.

Looks likes he's probably put on weight.

Here's another photo taken on the day of his draft

[softgeorge]

looks like hamas won this episode. 1 for a 1,000 good bargaining just imagine if they had a few more israelies in thier cells they could of got a lot more of thiers released. Sounds like someone hired the guy in Australia who brokered the deal with Malaysia on asylum seekers. If you take 36 asylum seekers of our hands we will take 4,000 off your hands. Wow great offloaded that 36 and oh <deleted> where did the 4,000 come from .

[GentlemanJim]

Steely

Are you trying to tell us that the Geneva convention applies in this case? Are you sure about that?

Food and medicine are very difficult commodities to come by where he has been held, and you don't think for a minute that when it became available his captors put him at the front of the queue? In all honesty, with 5 years effective solitary confinement I think he looks in great health. I hope mentally he is as tough as he appears to have been physically.

I am delighted by the return of this young man to his family and hope that the Israeli's will stomp down quickly on any prisoners released who engage in acts of terrorism.

I answered your point about supposed food shortages in Gaza in another post, but just for you here..

As for Geneva convention, let's just say the conditions of his capture and solitary confinement have been condemned by most civilised governments and humanitarian bodies so don't try a semantic argument as it doesn't wash.

I agree that the conditions of capture and confinement should be condemned. It is testimony to him he appears as healthy as he does.

I am not being Semantic. You mentioned the Geneva convention. The convention is only applicable to those nations that signed it. In a recent amendment it also became law that any member of the UN, was, by virtue of that membership a signatory of the Geneva convention. Palestine is as yet, not a member of the UN. As for obese Palestinians, I can believe that I mean they don't have much space left to exercise in now do they.

Anyway does all that make me anti-semantic?

[Steely Dan]

I agree that the conditions of capture and confinement should be condemned. It is testimony to him he appears as healthy as he does.

I am not being Semantic. You mentioned the Geneva convention. The convention is only applicable to those nations that signed it. In a recent amendment it also became law that any member of the UN, was, by virtue of that membership a signatory of the Geneva convention. Palestine is as yet, not a member of the UN. As for obese Palestinians, I can believe that I mean they don't have much space left to exercise in now do they.

Anyway does all that make me anti-semantic?

Ok, Point accepted on the Geneva convention, perhaps that explains why Hamas were against the Palestinian statehood bid as they might for once get some international heat on them. As for the lack of space for the Palestinians, if they stopped shooting rockets at Israel and detonating themselves they might be trusted to be a little more free range, though we are still talking about a tiny Country; if the supposed 11 million who claim the right of return were allowed into Israel you would have to stack them to get them all in.

[Wallaby]

I agree that the conditions of capture and confinement should be condemned. It is testimony to him he appears as healthy as he does.

I am not being Semantic. You mentioned the Geneva convention. The convention is only applicable to those nations that signed it. In a recent amendment it also became law that any member of the UN, was, by virtue of that membership a signatory of the Geneva convention. Palestine is as yet, not a member of the UN. As for obese Palestinians, I can believe that I mean they don't have much space left to exercise in now do they.

Anyway does all that make me anti-semantic?

Ok, Point accepted on the Geneva convention, perhaps that explains why Hamas were against the Palestinian statehood bid as they might for once get some international heat on them. As for the lack of space for the Palestinians, if they stopped shooting rockets at Israel and detonating themselves they might be trusted to be a little more free range, though we are still talking about a tiny Country; if the supposed 11 million who claim the right of return were allowed into Israel you would have to stack them to get them all in.

Even if not a signatory I do think captives should be treated with respect and one shouldn't need a signed convention to do so. That also goes for prisoners held by the US.

[Payboy]

*edited out*

I'm gonna hide in the Pattaya forum.

Edited October 19, 2011 by Scott
reply to deleted quote edited out

[smiling mantis]

I am delighted by the return of this young man to his family and hope that the Israeli's will stomp down quickly on any prisoners released who engage in acts of terrorism.

Of course, it shouldn't surprise anyone were an innocent person who was wrongly incarcerated for all these years to then feel compelled to commit violent acts upon his release. And then for the Israelis to say, in effect, "Aha, we told you they were terrorists!"

So why did you release them?

This is as surreal a story as we've seen in a long time coming from that place. And that says a lot.

[Ulysses G.]

So why did you release them?

In return for an Israeli soldier that was held illegally and - from the look of him - very likely badly mistreated.

[Scott]

closed for cleaning.

Re-opened, but further nastiness will result in suspensions.

[geriatrickid]

Yes, it could be be because of Israel's embargo is having a detrimental effect on food getting into Palestine. Anyone have a 'before and after' photo?

By the way, do you know the names of all the Palestinians released? Just wondering why one would call them all murderers without providing any proof.

Oh that's right, just baiting with more nonsense and trying to get this thread closed.

Hamas refused access by the Red Cross to the Israeli, whereas the Red Cross had access to the arab detainees.

There is no food shortage in Gaza.

I believe your inaccurate statement meets the definition of baiting.

[geriatrickid]

Steely

Are you trying to tell us that the Geneva convention applies in this case? Are you sure about that?

Food and medicine are very difficult commodities to come by where he has been held, and you don't think for a minute that when it became available his captors put him at the front of the queue? In all honesty, with 5 years effective solitary confinement I think he looks in great health. I hope mentally he is as tough as he appears to have been physically.

I am delighted by the return of this young man to his family and hope that the Israeli's will stomp down quickly on any prisoners released who engage in acts of terrorism.

I answered your point about supposed food shortages in Gaza in another post, but just for you here..

As for Geneva convention, let's just say the conditions of his capture and solitary confinement have been condemned by most civilised governments and humanitarian bodies so don't try a semantic argument as it doesn't wash.

I agree that the conditions of capture and confinement should be condemned. It is testimony to him he appears as healthy as he does.

I am not being Semantic. You mentioned the Geneva convention. The convention is only applicable to those nations that signed it. In a recent amendment it also became law that any member of the UN, was, by virtue of that membership a signatory of the Geneva convention. Palestine is as yet, not a member of the UN. As for obese Palestinians, I can believe that I mean they don't have much space left to exercise in now do they.

Anyway does all that make me anti-semantic?

Your statement is inaccurate in respect to the space issue. There are vast tracts of undeveloped land in Gaza. A case in point is that Gaza has some of the most beautiful beaches in the region. Nothing stopped the local administration from developing parks or protecting the natural areas. In fact , funding was provided for just that purpose and was misappropriated by the local administration. The fact remains that the Israeli was inhumanely treated. One may criticize the Israelis for alleged improper behaviour, but that does not justify the manner in which the Israeli was treated. The double standard is once again demonstrated.

[Scott]

Off-topic posts deleted.

[SAffer]

Terrorists were jailed after being arrested and given a fair trial in a court of law. Israeli soldier kidnapped illegally and held in solitary confinement for 5 years, no trial.

Nelson Mandela jailed in SA for years, for an act of terror... released and speaks of peace and reconciliation.

There is no reason for released prisoners to be so bitter toward Israels benevolence. If they were terrorists before, they should stop it now, after seeing how Israel treated them as human beings.

[Scott]

An off-topic post has been deleted. Please stick to the topic and not the person making the post.

[Jingthing]

There is no reason for released prisoners to be so bitter toward Israels benevolence. If they were terrorists before, they should stop it now, after seeing how Israel treated them as human beings.

It's a nice thought.

But we are dealing with a different situation there.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/freed-female-palestinian-terrorist-to-gaza-children-i-hope-you-will-become-martyrs-1.391014

Freed female Palestinian terrorist to Gaza children: I hope you will become martyrs

Wafa al-Biss, who was freed as part of the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange, was sentenced to a 12-year term for planning to blow herself up near Be'er Sheva's Soroka hospital in 2005.

By Reuters Tags: Palestinians Gaza Hamas prisoner exchange Fatah Israel terrorism

A would-be Palestinian suicide bomber freed by Israel in the prisoner swap for soldier Gilad Shalit told cheering schoolchildren in the Gaza Strip the day after her release on Wednesday she hoped they would follow her example.

"I hope you will walk the same path we took and God willing, we will see some of you as martyrs," Wafa al-Biss told dozens of children who came to her home in the northern Gaza Strip.

[GentlemanJim]

To be totally honest I am completely bemused by some of the prisoners that Israel has decided to release. We don't of course know if as part of the 'negotiation' certain names of prisoners had to be included in the deal, but I am sure with the many Palestinians held in Israeli jails that there are many more 'low key' prisoners that could have been released instead of some of the odious characters that now find themselves on the way to freedom. The woman who planned suicide bombings who got 16 life sentences and shows absolutely no remorse springs to mind as someone who should never see the light of day again. Still, I am sure the Government know what they are doing.