On October 18, 2011 Israeli prisoner, Gilad Shalit, was finally released from Palestinian captivity. Shalit is an Israeli soldier who was captured over five years ago and had been held prisoner in the Gaza strip since then. He was taken hostage in 2006 when his tank was ambushed and his family didn’t see him again until they received a badly filmed tape 3 years later. And even that was only given in return for the release of 20 female Palestinian prisoners. Furthermore, in direct violation of the Geneva Conventions, Shalit’s captors refused to allow him medical visits from the Red Cross to confirm his health and safety.

Upon his capture, Shalit’s parents launched a massive campaign in an effort to recover their son. They sold shirts and bracelets, gained the support of numerous countries (including Russia and the USA), and made their son into a national symbol. In fact, this past summer, their efforts reached the Jewish summer camp where I worked. The entire camp watched a documentary about Shalit’s capture and afterwards everyone received “Free Gilad Shalit” bracelets that the camp had purchased in support of the Shalit family. Yet, despite these impressive efforts, the Shalit’s appeared to be making no progress. Until, that is, October when the Israeli government finally traded 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Gilad Shalit.

The harrowed-looking soldier finally reconnected with his family and received a promotion to sergeant and a visit from the Israeli Prime minister upon his return. Joyous homecoming aside, this trade has sparked debate throughout the world as individuals and nations alike weigh the safety of one man against one thousand. After all, this deal just proves to Hamas (the terrorist organization which held Shalit and has also become a major party in the Gaza strip’s political system) the effectiveness of holding an Israeli soldier hostage.

Still, one thing is for certain, now when his parents quote the immortalized words “חי עדיין גלעד” (Gilad is still Alive) they can finally look upon the proof.