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Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was handed over to Egyptian authorities Tuesday in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, a Hamas military spokesman said.

Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit who was taken away by Palestinian militants in June 2006 [File photo]

Shalit will be transferred to Israel via Egypt on Tuesday morning, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement. When Shalit arrives in Israel, he will be checked by a doctor. At the same time, Shalit will speak with his family by telephone.

Later Shalit will travel to the Tel Nof Airbase. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, and Israeli Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz, as well as Shalit's parents and his family are due to arrive at the air base to meet him, according to Israeli Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

And he will undergo additional medical and psychological tests, the IDF statement said.

Israeli authorities on Tuesday morning began releasing Arab and Palestinian security prisoners, as part of a swap deal to free Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit who has been held by the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas since 2006.

A witness at the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel, Egypt and the Gaza Strip told Xinhua that buses with Arab and Palestinian prisoners have passed the border.

From 3:00 a.m. (0100 GMT) on Tuesday, Israel Prison Service has transferred 477 prisoners to several places, including the country's border crossings with Gaza and the West Bank.

According to earlier arrangement, Israeli authorities would begin handing over the inmates to the International Committee of the Red Cross after receiving confirmation that Shalit is released by Hamas and enters Egypt.

According to a deal clinched last week between Israel and Hamas, Israel will release a total of 1,027 Palestinian and Arab prisoners in exchange for Shalit, with the first batch of 477 people being released on Tuesday.

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