Ynetnews.com (excerpts):  Gilad Shalit is coming home.  The prisoner exchange deal signaling the end of Gilad Shalit's five-year Hamas captivity began in the early hours of Tuesday morning (IST), as the Israel Prison Service (IPS) began shuttling the 477 Palestinian prisoners slated to be released as part of the first stage of the deal to their rendezvous points with the Red Cross.  Egyptian Consulate officers arrived in Hasharon and Ktziot prisons overnight to monitor the process.  The prisoners are being transported to the Kerem Shalom crossing near the Gaza border and the Beitunia crossing near Ramallah, ahead of the actual exchange.  The IPS's Nachshon Prisoner Transports Unit is overseeing the convoys.  The transport is being held under heavy guard, and according to Israel radio, over 1,000 police officers have been deployed across the convoy's routes to ensure both their safety and public order.  Gilad Shalit is expected to be transferred to Rafah crossing at around 6 am, where he will be handed over to the Egyptian mediators, who will transfer him to Sinai.  Once in Sinai, Shalit will be placed in the IDF's custody.  Parallel to Shalit's release, Israel will release 450 prisoners and 27 female prisoners - 280 of whom were sentenced to multiple life terms for terror offenses.  The IPS shuttles will liaise with the Red Cross, which will ensure that the prisoners arrive at their destinations.  Some will be allowed to return to the West Bank, and four of them, including Amna Muna, will return to Gaza, an IPS official said.  Gilad Shalit's first stop, once back in Israel, will be the Amitai IDF Base, where he will finally contact his family, as well as undergo a medical exam.  From there, he will be flown to the Tel Nof Airbase, where he will reunite with his family for the first time in over five years.  The Air Force has arranged for special transport for the Shalits to Tel Nof and a special "sterile zone" has been set up on the base to ensure the family's privacy.  Shalit is expected to undergo a second medical exam in Tel Nof as well.  

Commentary:  Hamas kidnapped Gilad Shalit over five years ago and has held him without any contact in person or by mail with his family, which is a violation of international law.  The kidnapping to start with was a violation, but the manner in which he has been held by Hamas has been unconscionable and horrific for Gilad and his family.  The fact that he is even returning home alive from Hamas captivity is a pure miracle, in that Hamas hates Jews with a vile hatred.  They frequently chant they will appear "knocking on the gates of heaven with the skulls of Jews."  Their hatred for Jews has wrought all kinds of terror and mayhem to the Israelis. Thousands of people across the globe, and I - for one, have been praying daily for years for Gilad's release and safe return home.  God is faithful to his people and He does answer our prayers.  Thanks be to God; thanks be to God; thanks be to God!  "The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and His ears are open to their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil" 1 Peter 3:12.