By Philip Jacobson UPDATED: 01:24 EST, 19 October 2011 Back in fatigues: Sergeant First Class Gilad Shalit, wearing army uniform at an IDF base near Kerem Shalom, Israel, this morning, shortly after his release As footage of the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit – pale and drawn after five years as a hostage of Hamas – was beamed around the world yesterday, a Palestinian friend called me from the main square in Gaza City. He said he was in the middle of a huge and jubilant crowd waiting to welcome home the first of the 1,027 prisoners for whom Shalit had been exchanged.
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Gilad Shalit handed over to Egyptians and returned to Israel in swap backed by nearly 80 per cent of Israelis
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477 Palestinian prisoners released in return - with another 550 due to be freed in a later planned exchange
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In first interview Shalit says he hopes the prisoner exchange 'would contribute to peace between Israel and the Palestinians'
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