An Israeli soldier who was held captive in Gaza for more than five years, has been reunited with his family at an airbase in Israel.
Looking gaunt and tired, Sergeant Gilad Shalit told Egyptian TV he had been lonely, but had always believed the day would come when he would be free.
In exchange, Israel freed 477 Palestinians on Tuesday, including people convicted of murder and of planning suicide attacks.
Another 550 jailed Palestinians are to be freed next month under a deal the deal brokered by Egypt.
Sergeant Shalit, 25, was seized in 2006 by Hamas fighters who tunnelled into Israel.
Early on Tuesday he was taken to the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, and handed over to Egyptian mediators by Hamas, in the presence of Israeli representatives.
In his first interview, Sergeant Shalit said he missed his friends and family.
Looking drawn and pale, he said he hoped the exchange would help bring peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
He was then transferred to the Kerem Shalom crossing between Egypt and Israel.
After making a phone call to his parents, he was flown to Tel Nof airbase, where the family was reunited.
The BBC reports that initial medical examinations found Sergeant Shalit to be in a stable condition.
Heavy price - PM
At Tel Nof he was met by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said the release was an ''exciting moment'' but also ''very difficult'' as the price - the release of more than 1000 Palestinian prisoners - had been ''heavy, very high''.
Mr Netanyahu added:
''I want to make it clear: we will continue fighting terrorism.''
Meanwhile, the former Palestinian prisoners have been arriving in Gaza and the West Bank.
An estimated 200,000 people gathered in Gaza City to welcome them.
Hamas says the Palestinian people should consider this a victory for them.
