By, Jessica Elgot
1 min read
ByJessica Elgot, Jessica Elgot
The video of captured soldier Gilad Shalit has been sent to the Shalit family after being seen by Israeli officials.
The video, filmed on September 14, shows Shalit looking healthy and talking coherently in a manner which sounds less scripted than previous audio releases.
The video is also over two minutes long, not one minute as was previously reported.
Shalit is said to be clean-shaven, wearing civilian clothes, holding a newspaper with the correct date on it, and standing in front of a sheet with the symbol of the Hamas military wing on it.
Israeli press reports that Shalit talks about an incident from his past in the short film.
IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazy was first to see the film. He then gave the go-ahead to release the 20 women prisoners which Israel had agreed to set free in exchange for the video.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Ehud Barak watched the film at 12.30 Israeli time.
The video was then sent by helicopter to the Shalit family.