As more details are revealed on the historic release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, the Israeli people are celebrating his return, but expressing concern over the release of over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, most of which are terrorists, many responsible for extreme terror attacks in Israel. The numbers:
1,027 prisoners will be released in total.
27 of them are female.
450 will be released within a week, likely as the actual exchange for Gilad takes place.
The remaining terrorists will be released in two months.
The 450 include 385 terrorists serving life sentences. They are classified as "heavy terrorists," an Israeli term referring to exceptionally brutal individuals serving time for bombings, murders and terror attacks.
Hamas leader Khaled Mashal addressed the Palestinian people Tuesday evening saying: "We should be proud. We are bringing this news to the fathers, the mothers, the children, the families of the prisoners. All who have cried a tear for the prisoners...This is a great achievement. But our happiness is full of pain that we were unable to release all (8,000) of the prisoners."
Mashal said it was a "great achievement" to get so many prisoners in exchange for one man. He then sent a message to the remaining prisoners saying, "We will continue our efforts until we release all of you. Someone who agrees to release 1,000 prisoners will agree to release 8,000 in the future...This is a promise, this is our oath."
