Shalit, Palestinians freed in swap

By aswhipple
  • Military riad kills two.

    Military riad kills two.

    Hamas militants launch raid into Israel from the Gaza Strip, killing two soldiers and capturing Shalit.
    - Image via Getty Images
  • Invasion ignites violence.

    Invasion ignites violence.

    Israeli troops invade the Gaza Strip.
    - Image via AmericanMissive.com
  • A message from the abducted.

    A message from the abducted.

    Letter from Shalit reaches his family via Egyptian mediators brokering a prisoner swap deal.
    - Image via TheBlaze.com

  • The brink of civil war.

    Worst internal Palestinian fighting in a decade raises fears of a civil war in Gaza.

  • Ceasefire eases tension.

    Ceasefire in Gaza announced, ends five months of Israeli air strikes and incursions that fail to free Shalit.
    Read more about the cease fire.
  • Hamas takes Gaza.

    Hamas takes Gaza.

    Hamas takes over Gaza from Fatah forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
  • Audio from captors airs via Israeli TV.

    Audio from captors airs via Israeli TV.

    Israeli TV airs audio tape from Shalit's captors asking for medical treatment and release of Palestinians.
    - Photo of Shalit's captors.
  • Hamas commander abducted.

    Hamas commander abducted.

    Israeli special forces disguised as Hamas gunmen abduct Hamas commander to be used as "bargaining chip."
  • A call for freedom.

    A call for freedom.

    Hamas says Shalit won't be freed unless Israel frees 1,400 Palestinian prisoners, many long-term.

  • Negotiations begin.

    Hamas leader offers Israel six-month truce in Gaza but says fate of Shalit separate issue.

  • Israel demands Shalit's release.

    Israel says ceasefire deal must include Shalit. Talks falter over Israel's refusal to reopen Gaza's border.

  • A letter makes it home.

    Israeli television says Shalit's family receives hand-written letter from their son.

  • Israel and Hamas agree to end violence.

    Israel and Hamas agree to Egyptian-brokered ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

  • Hamas demands more freed prisoners.

    Hamas rejects list of prisoners Israel is ready to free in exchange for Shalit, saying it wants more.

  • Ceasefire comes to an end.

    Fragile six-month ceasefire between Israel and Hamas expires as they fail to agree on terms to extend truce.
  • Violence continues. Israel goes on offense.

    Violence continues. Israel goes on offense.

    Israel launches 22-day military offensive in the Gaza Strip. About 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis are killed.

  • Another chance at peace.

    Israel and Hamas cease fire in Gaza.

  • Proof of life frees 20 Palestinian women.

    Israel and Hamas confirm deal to exchange proof that Shalit is alive for release of 20 female Palestinians.
  • Video confirms Shalit's survival.

    Video confirms Shalit's survival.

    Video is handed over and authenticated in which Shalit looked "pale but in good health."

  • Israel rejects the release of Hamas commanders.

    Israel rejects a demand for the release of several Hamas commanders as part of any exchange for Shalit.
  • Shalit's family marches for release.

    Shalit's family marches for release.

    Shalit's parents begin march from home to PM Benjamin Netanyahu's residence to press for prisoner swap.

  • Hamas militant responsible for abduction is killed.

    The Israeli military says that Tayser Abu Snima, a top Hamas militant, killed in a raid, was "directly and physically involved" in Shalit's capture.

  • Israel and Hamas set terms for prisoner swap.

    Israeli and Hamas officials say a deal has been reached to swap Shalit for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
  • Palestinian prisoners relocated in preparation for exchange.

    Palestinian prisoners relocated in preparation for exchange.

    Israel buses hundreds Palestinian prisoners under heavy guard to a holding facility in the Negev desert in preparation for them to be exchanged for captive Shalit.
  • Shalit is exchanged for Palistinian prisoners.

    Shalit is exchanged for Palistinian prisoners.

    Shalit is taken across the frontier from the Gaza Strip into Egypt's Sinai Peninsula and driven to Israel's Vineyard of Peace border crossing, where a helicopter flew him to an air base for a reunion with his parents. Simultaneously Israel freed 477 prisoners, most of them in the Gaza Strip, where Hamas leaders greeted former prisoners piling off buses bearing Red Cross insignia.