Gilad Schalit's release: The stage-by-stage timeline
View expected sequence of events for the prisoner exchange, beginning with Hamas transferring the captured soldier to the Red Cross in Gaza.
By YAAKOV KATZGilad Schalit in uniform 311(photo credit: Reuters)The following is a timeline of the expected sequence of events for the prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel, set for Tuesday, October 18:Stage 1: Hamas transfers Gilad Schalit to the Red Cross in the Gaza StripStage 2: Israel releases 27 female prisoners upon confirmation that Schalit is alive and has been transferred to the Red CrossStage 3: Schalit is transferred by the Red Cross to Egypt, where he's expected to spend 15-20 minutes Stage 4: Israel releases 450 prisoners:- 294 Gaza-bound prisoners from Gaza and the West Bank will be transferred by land via Egypt - 96 prisoners being sent to the West Bank will be transferred from the Ofer Prison to Ramallah - 14 prisoners will be transferred from the Ofer Prison to east Jerusalem - 40 prisoners from the West Bank being sent overseas will be transferred to Egypt.- The six Israeli Arabs being released will be waiting at Israel Police stations throughout the country near their homes prior to release Simultaneously, Schalit is transferred to Israel via a land crossing with EgyptStage 5: Schalit is taken to an IDF base in the South, where he undergoes a series of preliminary medical checks, and is given the first opportunity to call his familyStage 6: If deemed healthy, Schalit is flown by the Air Force to Tel Nof IAF base, near Rehovot, which has already set up a room for a small receptionStage 7: Upon landing, Schait undergoes additional medical checks by the IDF Medical CorpsStage 8: Schalit meets very briefly with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz, and is then immediately taken to meet with his parents, grandfather, brother and sister.Stage 9: If deemed healthy, Schalit is flown from Tel Nof to his home in Mitzpe HilaStage 10: Two months later, Israel releases 550 prisoners of its choice Click for full JPost coverage on Gilad Schalit
