Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit told Egyptian state TV that he would approve of the release of the remaining approximately 5000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails if they do not return to violence against the Jewish state.
"I hope this deal will move the peace process forward," he told Shahira Amin of Egyptian TV, saying he will be glad if the remaining Palestinian prisoners are released "as long as they do not go back to fighting Israel."
Shalit expressed hope that the deal will help reach “a peaceful resolution between Palestinians and Israelis and strengthen ties between the two sides.”
Shalit attributed the success of the exchange deal to the good relations Egypt has with both sides, which helped “seal the deal.” He said he believed a day would come in which he found himself out of captivity because of a prisoner exchange deal.
“I received the news about the exchange a week ago, and I can hardly describe my feelings,” Shalit said.
Shalit said that he has a lot to do after his release, and that he missed his family, friends and meeting normal people.
While airing the interview, Egyptian TV said the interview was recorded after Hamas released Shalit to the Egyptian side and was aired moments after the Israeli army announced it had received Shalit.
Hamas had announced earlier that Shalit was delivered to Egyptian authorities Tuesday morning for his transfer to Israel through the prisoner exchange deal, according to which 1027 Palestinian prisoners will be set free in two stages.
Israeli prison authorities finished Tuesday morning the process of transferring the 477 male and female prisoners who will be released in the first stage of the deal to the border crossings they will be released from.
