Israel was last night preparing to release 550 Palestinian prisoners, in the second and final phase of a swap with Hamas militants that brought home an Israeli soldier after five years in captivity.
By The Newsroom
Published 19th Dec 2011, 02:51 BST
Under the Egyptian-brokered deal, Israel agreed to exchange a total of 1,027 prisoners for Sgt Gilad Schalit, who was captured by Gaza militants in 2006.