Jerusalem: Breathing fresh air after being
released from Hamas captivity of 1,941 days, Israeli soldier
Gilad Shalit on Tuesday expressed hope that there won't be any more
wars with Palestine.
"I hope this deal will promote peace. I hope there would
be no wars between Israel and the Palestinians", a visibly
relieved Shalit told Egyptian Television in an interview after
being handed over to Egypt by Hamas.
Asked if he would campaign for the release of Palestinian
prisoners languishing in Israeli jails, Shalit, who has become
the first Jewish prisoner to return home alive in 26 years,
said he "would be happy to see them released provided they do
not go back to take up arms against Israel".
The soldier, who was released as part of a historic swap
deal in which Israel would release 1,027 Palestinians, said
that that he had been treated well by his Hamas captors during
the five years he was held hostage.
"I'm very emotional. I haven't seen people in a long
time. I missed my family. I missed seeing people, and talking
to them," he said.
Shalit said that he thought he would remain in captivity
for many years to come.
"I thought I'd find myself in this situation for many
years to come," he said.
Israel is waiting with bated breath for Shalit, who was in
captivity in the Gaza Strip following his abduction in a cross
border raid in June 2005, to come back.
The soldier was seen having trouble speaking and gave
short responses to the questions.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, October 18, 2011, 16:29