After nearly five and a half years in captivity, Staff Sgt. Gilad Shalit, who was abducted by Hamas in a cross-border raid in June 2006, will return home to Israel on Tuesday. Shalit, now aged 25, has not had a single visit, either from his family or from the Red Cross, during his time as a hostage in Gaza. He was a 19-year-old corporal when he was abducted. The IDF raised his rank while he was in captivity. Last week, following years of on-again, off-again negotiations, Israel and Hamas agreed on a prisoner exchange deal with the help of German and Egyptian mediators. In exchange for Shalit's freedom, 1,027 Palestinian prisoners most of whom are serving life sentences for murder or acts of terrorism will be released in two waves, the first of which will also occur on Tuesday. A group of 40 Palestinian detainees being exiled overseas under a deal to free the abducted Israeli soldier will be sent to Turkey, Syria and Qatar, Hamas said on Monday. The vast majority of Israelis, regardless of political or religious standing, consider Shalit's abduction to be a national tragedy. While his family and many of their supporters anxiously await Gilad's return, the families of the victims of terror have petitioned the High Court of Justice to thwart the planned release of the Palestinians responsible for the murder of their loved ones. The High Court convened on Monday to hear four petitions against the prisoners' release from the families of victims of terror, in a procedure which must first be exhausted before the exchange operation can go ahead. The court has never in its history overturned a government decision to free prisoners involved in terror attacks. Together, Israelis both for and against the deal, now hold their breath and wait. Preparations for the release of Gilad Shalit will start overnight Monday and continue on Tuesday. His transfer will unfold via a series of carefully executed steps. Step One: Prison Service buses to transport prisoners to release points Release of prisoners to begin at 6 a.m. Prisoners will be driven from Ofer Prison in the West Bank, the Ketziot Prison in the south, the Hasharon-Tel Mond Prison in central Israel, and taken by Israel Prison Service buses to the following locations, from where they will be released: • Judea and Samaria, Ofer Camp: Prisoners going to Judea and Samaria will leave on International Red Cross buses for the Palestinian town of Beitounia. • Kerem Shalom: Prisoners going to Gaza and abroad will be released to the Red Cross in Egypt near the Gaza-Egypt-Israel border. • Golan Heights: One prisoner will be released to the Golan Heights through the Katzrin station. • Judea and Samaria district: Israeli-Arabs going to locations within Israel will be released at Ma'ale Adumim. A total of 477 prisoners will be released on Tuesday, with 550 more set to gain freedom two months later. These prisoners' releases will occur simultaneously with the transfer of Shalit from Hamas' hands to the Red Cross in Egypt. The actual handover is expected to take place at around 11 a.m. (0900 GMT), Hamas officials told Gaza media on condition of anonymity. The Israeli soldier is to cross into Israeli territory at the Kerem Shalom crossing, where Israeli officials are to receive him and a bag packed by his family with personal items will be awaiting him, according to DPA. After the first 27 female prisoners have been transferred to the Red Cross in Egypt, Gilad will be transferred from Gaza to the Red Cross in Egypt. At this point, IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yoav Mordechai will release his first written announcement to the public. Simultaneously, the following 450 prisoners, all males, will be released. Step Two: Medical check As as soon as Shalit is transferred to Israel from Egypt, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit will release a second announcement, this time spoken and transmitted over Army Radio. Gilad will then be brought to the Amitai military base near Israel's southern border with Egypt. He will be received by officials from the IDF Manpower Directorate and medical corps. Shalit will then shower, be clothed in army uniform, and will speak with his mother on the phone. Once his medical condition is determined, he will be flown to the Tel Nof Airbase, where his family will be waiting. The IDF Spokesperson will address the media after receiving an update on Gilad's condition from the chief medical officer. Step Three: Flight to Tel Nof Shalit will land at Tel Nof and upon debarkation will be greeted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz. One of these three officials will then briefly address the media. At this point, Shalit will be reunited with his family, and together the Shalits will be flown to their home in Mitzpe Hila, in northern Israel. Step Four: Mitzpe Hila Shalit and his family will land in Mitzpe Hila. Police will close off the area to media and outside traffic.
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