SFC Gilad Shalit Returns to his Home in Mitzpe Hila

Gilad Shalit, in good and stable health, 'returned to his country and his family'.

Gilad Shalit's return to Israel.

(TEL AVIV) - IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yoav (Poly) Mordechai addressed SFC Gilad Shalit's medical condition as part of the operation to return him to Israel.

"Gilad Shalit returned home. Today Gilad Shalit returned from the military operation he left for on June 25, 2006. This very moment Gilad Shalit is stepping back into the State of Israel. He spoke to people at the site and to his family. Gilad Shalit has returned to his country, his homeland and his family," said Brig. Gen. Mordechai. He mentioned that "for over five years we have been the Israeli people and the IDF with Gilad Shalit. Today, Gilad Shalit is with us."

"Not far from here, the tank was attacked during operational activity. During this attack, two Armored Corps combat soldiers were killed and Gilad Shalit was abducted. In the same area, right now, the Southern Command commander and other officers are accompanying Gilad to a nearby IDF base."

Timeline:

16:55 - The helicopter carrying Sergeant First Class Gilad Shalit and his family lands in Mitzpe Hila. SFC Shalit has returned home.

16:14 - A short while ago and after completing a secondary and thorough medical examination in a medical facility purposefully established on the premises, SFC Gilad Shalit and his family took off from the Tel Nof IAF base.

The family is now flying together to their home in Mitzpe Hila.

13:08 - SFC Gilad Shalit reunited with his parents a short while ago. Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu said to him, "hello Gilad, welcome back to the State of Israel. It's great to have you back home."

12:47 - IDF helicopter with SFC Gilad Shalit landed at the Tel Nof Airbase.

12:25 - IDF helicopter with SFC Gilad Shalit on it took off to the Tel Nof Airbase where he will reunite with his family.

12:17 - Illegal and violent riot by Palestinians near the Beituniya crossing south of Ramallah. Approximately 1,500 rioters are waving Hamas flags, burning tires and throwing rocks at security forces who are responding with non-lethal riot dispersal means. No injuries have been reported through the security fence was damaged.

12:15 - Transfer of the prisoners released as part of the process to free SFC Gilad Shalit was completed. The prisoners passed through the Beituniya and Kerem Shalom crossings, into Judea and Samaria, Israel and Egypt.

The International Committee of the Red Cross assisted in the transfer of prisoners, which was completed without incident.

11:50 - Sergeant First Class Gilad Shalit concluded the initial processing stage at an IDF base near Kerem Shalom. SFC Shalit is on his way to an IDF base, where he will be greeted by the Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and the IDF Chief of the General Staff, and be reunited with his family.

SFC Shalit was transferred to the care of representatives of the IDF Personnel Directorate and has undergone an initial medical examination by Medical Corps personnel, who confirmed that he is in good and stable health. SFC Shalit then spoke to his family over the phone.

11:10am - SFC Gilad Shalit, crossed the border into Israel, ending over five years in captivity

SFC Shalit was greeted by officers from the Southern Command, representatives from the IDF Personnel Directorate, the IDF Medical Corps and a team from the Prisoners of War and Missing in Action Department.

In the coming moments, SFC Shalit will be transferred to an IDF base near the crossing point, where he will speak with his family on the phone and undergo an initial medical examination. Immediately afterwards, he will be flown in an IAF helicopter to an IDF base in central Israel, where he will be reunited with his family.

Brig. Gen. Mordechai said that, at the base, Shalit will undergo medical examinations. Before the examinations, a phone conversation will be held with his family.

Brig. Gen. Mordechai said that "everyone in Israel is anxious to receive updates regarding his medical condition though the information will first be given to his family and then to the Prime Minister, the Defense Minister and the Chief of the General Staff." He added that "with the completion of the examinations, Gilad will fly to the Tel Nof Airbase where he will be reunited with his family."

Source: News release issued by the Israeli Defence Forces in Tel Aviv, (Israel has maintained an illegal blockade of Gaza for several years and denies Palestinians Human Rights as defined under the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

To learn more about Israel's war on the Palestinians, visit Israeli Military War Crime Suspects Revealed - Salem-News.com