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Last update - 00:00 03/10/2009
Gilad Shalit in video: I've been longing for my freedom for a long time
By Barak Ravid, Jonathan Lis, Avi Issacharoff and Jack Khoury, Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: Hamas, Gilad Shalit 
Family of abducted soldier okays broadcast of footage showing Gilad holding newspaper dated last month.
 

A video of captive Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit was broadcast on Israeli television on Thursday, showing the gaunt soldier holding a Palestinian newspaper dated September 14, 2009. In the video, Shalit is seen saying that he was feeling healthy and being treated well by his captors.

WATCH THE VIDEO:


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In the video, which Israel received from Hamas on Friday in exchange for the release of 20 female Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, Shalit says that he had been reading newspapers in search of information regarding his situation.

He says he has been waiting a long time to be released, and expresses his love for his family. Shalit then recounts a personal anecdote from before his abduction, when his family visited him at his IDF army base.

Earlier Friday, Shalit's family approved the public broadcast of the video footage of their son, saying that Hamas could do what they wanted with the footage, and that they would rather control its release than leave it to Gilad's abductors.

A spokesman for the family told reporters that the family had contacted the Prime Minister's Office, officially permitting the release of the footage to the media.

Prime Minister Netanyahu watched the video of Gilad in his office on Friday. Netanyahu then spoke with Gilad's father, Noam Shalit.

Netanyahu said that the road to freeing Gilad is a long and hard one but the fact that he is healthy is encouraging to everyone.

Local media had earlier quoted Israeli officials as saying that the footage of Shalit showed him to be lucid and in good health.

Senior officers in the Israel Defense Forces and Defense Minister Ehud Barak viewed the video footage, which was handed over by Hamas in Gaza in return for the release of 20 Palestinian woman prisoners jailed in Israel. The video is the first of Shalit since his capture in June 2006.

The video arrived at the Mitzpe Hila home of the Shalit family later Friday, who reportedly viewed the footage together.

A spokesman for the family approached reporters after the family had viewed the video, saying that the family would not respond to the footage on that day.

The family then received a phone call from minister Barak, who spoke to Gilad's father Noam and grandfather Tzvi.

Barak encouraged the Shalit family, adding that "Gilad looks healthy, a fact which only strengthens my resolve, as well as everyone else's to bring him back home."

The video is apparently 2 minutes and 40 seconds long, and was recorded on September 14. China's Xinhua news agency said Thursday that the video shows Shalit in civilian dress against the background of a banner emblazoned with the logo of Hamas' military wing.

"The tape clearly shows that the captive soldier enjoys a good health and show[s] no sign of wounds," Xinhua's English edition quoted a source in Gaza as saying.

Shalit was captured by Gaza-based militants in 2006, during a cross-border raid. Red Cross officials have been denied permission to see the soldier.

Israel ordered the release of 19 Palestinian woman prisoners on Friday after it had verified that the video had indeed met its demands.

Members of the Israeli negotiating team for Shalit's release viewed the footage to ensure it met Israel's demands - primarily with regard to how recently it was filmed. The Israeli media reported that a copy of the video was also to be dispatched to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

As soon as it was determined that the video did indeed meet requirements, the Palestinian prisoners were transferred to Red Cross vehicles which finalized their release by transporting them over the border with the West Bank.

The 19 prisoners, most of the total of 20 expected to be released in the deal, left Hadarim Prison near Netanya at 9:30 A.M. and arrived at the Ofer and Shikma detention facilities ahead of their final release.

The last prisoner will be released only on Sunday, due to an error by the Israel Prisons Service. It emerged that one of the women slated for release under the deal had in fact already been released on Wednesday, after having a third deducted from her sentence for good behavior. Therefore, Israel must now find a substitute.


Related articles:
  • Israel frees Hamas West Bank political official
  • Rosh Hashanah package for Shalit makes it past Gaza border
  • Noam Shalit laments his son Gilad's fourth New Year in Hamas captivity
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      1.   20 priosners for a video!!!!!! 03:56  |  Mike 02/10/09
      2.   Hamas--this is how kidnappers operate 05:36  |  Paul Freedman 02/10/09
      3.   So let me get it straight 20 Females are Equal to 05:59  |  Gil 02/10/09
      4.   Israel is weak 06:59  |  jacques 02/10/09
      5.   20 Prisoners for a Video ???? 07:48  |  MJ 02/10/09
      6.   hamas trade 08:35  |  amir 02/10/09
      7.   The Human Touch we all missing 09:50  |  Mark Turner 02/10/09
      8.   DELETED BY MODERATOR 10:08  |  annie 02/10/09
      9.   sick sick sick 10:15  |  paul 02/10/09
      10.   Haniyeh for Gilad. 10:16  |  annette 02/10/09
      11.   @Amir #6 They are terrorists 10:30  |  SG. 02/10/09
      12.   Red cross or Dead cross ?? 10:32  |  Vogel 02/10/09
      13.   we are waiting for you Gilad 10:53  |  Daniela 02/10/09
      14.   Jacques 10:57  |  Daniela 02/10/09
      15.   Where is the UN condemnation now? 10:58  |  Proud Israeli 02/10/09
      16.   That`s wonderful!!! 11:04  |  yona 02/10/09
      17.   Why the UN could be of help if they changed their tune 11:09  |  Proud Israeli 02/10/09
      18.   Hamas taking full advantage of......... 11:13  |  David Ben 02/10/09
      19.   Cut its losses 11:20  |  Colin 02/10/09
      20.   Those 20 women are not killers - desparate mothers 12:22  |  Zeev 02/10/09
      21.   STOP THE CRAP AND GET SILAD BACK 12:42  |  JOSSI 02/10/09
      22.   Mike on 20 prisoners for a video 12:44  |  sh 02/10/09
      23.   We know he`s alive 12:47  |  sh 02/10/09
      24.   Israel gets Gilad Shalit video ..... ! 13:04  |  Ilan 02/10/09
      25.   havent yet decided whether to publicize the video? 13:20  |  Rafi Goldmeier 02/10/09
      26.   More Kidnapping !?! 13:22  |  Yosi 02/10/09
      27.   shalit video 13:28  |  proud american 02/10/09
      28.   answer to proud israeli 13:30  |  proud american 02/10/09
      29.   excuse me zeev 13:33  |  paul 02/10/09
      30.   ב"ה b"H inyan: next steps - in interest of Gilad 14:15  |  Esther Sarah Evans 02/10/09
      31.   Freedom to all presoners 14:29  |  Zaina Kayed Shehab 02/10/09
      32.   Why doesn`t Hamas let Red Cross see prisoner? 14:46  |  Ted 02/10/09
      33.   To Mike :20 Prisoners 14:49  |  Simon 02/10/09
      34.   The price of a video 14:57  |  Tito 02/10/09
      35.   If one wanted to be a bit sarcastical, one could say..... 15:10  |  Swiss (Dino) 02/10/09
      36.   world is against israel no metter what they do 15:14  |  yuksel 02/10/09
      37.   If one wanted to be a bit sarcastical, one could say..... 15:17  |  Swiss (Dino) 02/10/09
      38.   INNOCENT? Are you MAD? (@Simon) 16:10  |  Antony 02/10/09
      39.   dictated by *Israel 16:17  |  Sarah 02/10/09
      40.   Women released not killers. 16:17  |  Megan 02/10/09
      41.   Re: 16:23  |  Steffen 02/10/09
      42.   Propaganda and show trial 16:25  |  Anonymous 02/10/09
      43.   Don`t EMPOWER Terrorists - Don`t Negotiate 16:31  |  Brett 02/10/09
      44.   To Ted # 31 16:32  |  No Name 02/10/09
      45.   # 35 No Name (good grief!) 16:47  |  Mike B 02/10/09
      46.   4% of the deal 16:47  |  william 02/10/09
      47.   Gilad Shalit in video 17:00  |  Marlenea 02/10/09
      48.   how kidnappers operate 17:02  |  Mike 02/10/09
      49.   Muammar Brothers 17:05  |  Pissed Off 02/10/09
      50.   Heartbreaking to Watch 17:05  |  Jane 02/10/09
      51.   Gilad 17:09  |  Ted 02/10/09
      52.   Sahlit in Haaretz newsflash: "I read newspapers seeking informati 17:10  |  christoph 02/10/09
      53.   Paul in Jerusalem 17:10  |  wibism 02/10/09
      54.   Freedom for the soldier and the Palestinians 17:14  |  V 02/10/09
      55.   #26 Proud American (ye gads, another one) 17:15  |  *BEN JABO 02/10/09
      56.   for the umtheenth time 17:19  |  Chaphari 02/10/09
      57.   Pray for CURSES on Hamas captors and their families 17:33  |  shuebydoo 02/10/09
      58.   exhilerating to see Gilad 17:51  |  ivo 02/10/09
      59.   Re: Esther Sarah Evans 18:01  |  David 02/10/09
      60.   Hamas Just Defeated Us... 18:05  |  Yosemite 02/10/09
      61.   Repugnant behaviour 18:09  |  Trying to understand 02/10/09
      62.   Gilad 18:11  |  Rosh Yisrael 02/10/09
      63.   if it was one your own kid you wouldnt post as such 18:52  |  joe 02/10/09
      64.   Pay the Price now! 18:53  |  Jan 02/10/09
      65.   20 priosners for a video!!!!!! 18:57  |  replay to Mike 02/10/09
      66.   I hope the world is watching. 19:16  |  Tzfonit 02/10/09
      67.   Gilad Shalit 19:57  |  Laura Genovese 02/10/09
      68.   "20 women not killers" Really? 20:02  |  Geevee 02/10/09
      69.   Do the deal 20:08  |  Eli 02/10/09
      70.   Tzfonit 20:17  |  alan 02/10/09
      71.   Proof of life is the bottom line 20:36  |  allang 02/10/09
      72.   Tzfonit - We`re Watching 21:12  |  Mark of Lewiston 02/10/09
      73.   Proud 21:18  |  Disgusting UN 02/10/09
      74.   To Ben Jabo... 21:21  |  Silvienne 02/10/09
      75.   Mike B at no 44. Hamas won NATIONAL elections in 2006... 21:47  |  Ben Alofs 02/10/09
      76.   I feel healthy, being treated well... and really enjoy my stay 21:51  |  Darth Zaider (Ed) 02/10/09
      77.   Gilad Shalit exchange 22:36  |  R.S. 02/10/09
      78.   I feel sorry for Gilad, a pawn in game played by sick people. 22:55  |  Mark 02/10/09
      79.   resisting an illegal occupation is NOT a crime 23:00  |  patriot 02/10/09
      80.   Throwing Stones is Attempted Murder 23:15  |  Marc Leb 02/10/09
      81.   What a juxtaposition of a subdued, solemn Gilad Shalit 23:18  |  Smadar 02/10/09
      82.   Looks good for a POW 23:31  |  Joseph Blough 02/10/09
      83.   Regev and Goldwasser passed the redemption test 23:34  |  Mark Lincoln 02/10/09
      84.   Isreal must release all prisoners 23:39  |  max 02/10/09
      85.   Gil, the original offer was only 23:40  |  Mark Lincoln 02/10/09
      86.   Proud American 00:06  |  Noam 03/10/09
      87.   Nice to see the Pals calling the shots for a change. 00:07  |  gg 03/10/09
      88.   "proud american" 00:14  |  Rory 03/10/09
      89.   hamas stgrength 01:05  |  Rae 03/10/09
      90.   gilad 01:35  |  chawa 03/10/09
      91.   #71 Patriot to which country?? 01:40  |  *BEN JABO 03/10/09
      92.   #69 Silvienne 01:43  |  *BEN JABO 03/10/09
      93.   feel healthy, being treated well... and really enjoy my stay 02:26  |  Darth Zaider (Ed) 03/10/09
      94.   #9 Haniyeh I have a better idea Kidnap 02:40  |  Big Sur 03/10/09
      95.   Good news 03:05  |  Janice 03/10/09
      96.   Smadar 03:49  |  alan 03/10/09
      97.   To Megan and Zeev 03:55  |  Free Gilad Shalit 03/10/09
      98.   Mike from Baltimore talking BS 03:59  |  Free Gilad Shalit 03/10/09
      99.   The curious worlds of ideologues 04:19  |  Mark Lincoln 03/10/09
      100.   be brave Gilad 05:26  |  mad dogs 03/10/09
      101.   Free Gilad Now!! 05:43  |  Hakim 03/10/09
      102.   *BEN JABO der yasin happened before the arabs tried to stop 05:59  |  born in the USA 03/10/09
      103.   what about ima? 06:03  |  shani 03/10/09
      104.   Where has the International Red Cross been for all this time that 06:16  |  Eitan 03/10/09
      105.   It is possible to deduce where he is: Here is how. 06:30  |  Fortuna Benmayor 03/10/09
      106.   Here we go again 06:44  |  Mark Lincoln 03/10/09
      107.   Palestinian kidnapp victums: I`ve been longing for my freedom for 06:53  |  my freedom 03/10/09
      108.   Why not seek the truth? 06:53  |  Mark Lincoln 03/10/09
      109.   Hakim, the dilemma of Democracy 06:58  |  Mark Lincoln 03/10/09
      110.   Where has he Red Cross been? 07:06  |  Mark Lincoln 03/10/09
      111.   Re: 99 Mark Lincoln 07:12  |  Apa 03/10/09
      112.   Too bad Israel`s leader prefer Shalit as a political tool 07:13  |  binny 03/10/09
      113.   The essential failure of the lunatic right 07:13  |  Mark Lincoln 03/10/09
      114.   Re: 98 Free Gilad Shalit 07:13  |  Apa 03/10/09
      115.   In Fortuna Benmayor`s universe 07:15  |  Mark Lincoln 03/10/09
      116.   Earth to Fortuna 07:19  |  Mark Lincoln 03/10/09
      117.   mark lincoln being legally responsible for an occupation 07:20  |  news 03/10/09
      118.   Gilad is not equal for "many" palestinians 07:54  |  Ahmad 03/10/09
      119.   # 93 a bit intimidated; yes, darth zaider 08:04  |  eric 03/10/09
      120.   mark lincolc i respect you right to your opinion even if wrong 08:11  |  ditle datle 03/10/09
      121.   racism 08:26  |  circassian 03/10/09
      122.   the media inteferes and has become a player for wider audience 08:32  |  peter rouget 03/10/09
      123.   #68 not too "up" on israel`s military occupations; are you geevee 08:43  |  eric 03/10/09
      124.   Red Cross, UNHRC, HRW, Amnesty International: Where have you been 08:47  |  Eitan 03/10/09
      125.   Kidnappers, Paul Freedman? 10:15  |  Clickfool 03/10/09
      126.   #2, PAUL PAUL PAUL, they ahve learnt well 10:24  |  VIPER 03/10/09
      127.   Gilad 10:48  |  Inge Detlefsen 03/10/09
      128.   Image on front page is stretched and gives a wrong picture 10:56  |  SG. 03/10/09
      129.   Imagine being one of those exchanged 10:59  |  x-ray 03/10/09
      130.   Darth Zaider 11:05  |  Rae 03/10/09
      131.   marc leb 11:05  |  x-ray 03/10/09
      132.   smadar life is always so simple for you 11:07  |  x-ray 03/10/09
      133.   Joseph Blough 11:08  |  x-ray 03/10/09
      134.   Max you fool 11:11  |  x-ray 03/10/09
      135.   Gilad Shalit 11:12  |  Antoine HAKIM-GED 03/10/09
      136.   # 3 13,000 for 13 11:44  |  Noam 03/10/09
      137.   As if he is the only prisoner who suffers 11:45  |  abu ismail 03/10/09
      138.   Binny , too bad Israel 11:56  |  Rae 03/10/09
      139.   # 118 Clickfool. Who ? What? 12:10  |  The Teacher/Instruct 03/10/09
      140.   If you talkbackers .... 12:35  |  Joan 03/10/09
      141.   EITAN@104 The Red Cross?? As I read,I get angrier.. 13:22  |  Zionist Jew 03/10/09
      142.   patriot 13:26  |  Lilly 03/10/09
      143.   Gilad Shalit / Jerusalem Post 14:31  |  Antoine HAKIM-GED 03/10/09
      144.   #107 my freedom 16:41  |  *BEN JABO 03/10/09
      145.   #117 news - I``ve got a NEWS FLASH FOR U 16:50  |  *BEN JABO 03/10/09
      146.   cklick fool 16:53  |  Noam 03/10/09
      147.   Cklick fool 16:53  |  Noam 03/10/09
      148.   click Fool 16:54  |  Noam 03/10/09
      149.   Gilad Shalit 17:14  |  Dianne 03/10/09
      150.   News for news 18:17  |  Mark Lincoln 03/10/09
      151.   clickfool - your argument is specious 18:24  |  Mark Lincoln 03/10/09
      152.   Clickfool is serious?? 19:46  |  The Judge 03/10/09
      153.   On The Bright Side (No Pun Intended) 23:12  |  Brendan 03/10/09
      154.   Patriot: Being stupid isn`t a crime either 05:47  |  Eaglebeak 04/10/09
      155.   Mark Lincoln # 151 question 01:33  |  American in NY 06/10/09
      156.   Whem David heard the Goliath... 05:27  |  Marion 03/01/10
      157.   Gilad Shalit video 05:50  |  sentimentalady 13/01/10
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