Israeli soldier free after more than 1,800 days in captivity

The five-year ordeal of Israel's abducted soldier Gilad Shalit came to an end today as his captors, Hamas militants, handed him over to Egyptian authorities, bringing huge relief to the Jewish state.

Shalit was passed into Egyptian custody around 8 am local time under a prisoner exchange deal, which set in motion the release of 477 Palestinian prisoners by Israel.

The historic first ever prisoner swap between Israelis and the radical Palestinian group took place at the Rafah crossing and got underway when a SUV filled with armed men sped into Sinai from Gaza to hand over Shalit to Egyptians before zipping back across the border.

"Shalit was transfered to Egypt by Hamas and an Israeli doctor was checking his state of health," Egyptian officials were quoted as saying by television. The officials said that the Israeli prisoner would be transferred to Israel later in the day.

His transfer to Egypt set in motion the release of 1,027 Palestinian prisoners in a long-awaited deal signed last week.

Timed with Shalit's handover, buses carrying the first batch of 477 prisoners headed for Gaza and the West Bank.

Egyptian TV showed pictures of families of Palestinian prisoners waiting at the border in cheerful mood and waving flags.

Shalit has been held by Hamas militants in Gaza for more than five years and the swap deal marks the highest price ever paid for the release of one person.

Israelis waited with bated breath for the homecoming of Shalit, who has become the first Jewish prisoner to return home alive in 26 years.