UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday hailed the release of Franco-Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit by Hamas in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners as a "significant humanitarian breakthrough."
Shalit, held by Gaza militants since 2006, was released following a landmark deal between Israel and Hamas which saw the Jewish state freeing 477 Palestinian security prisoners, with another 550 to be liberated within two months.
The UN chief "welcomed the recent prisoner exchange agreement and views today’s releases as a significant humanitarian breakthrough," said Ban spokesman Martin Nesirky.
"He has long called for the end of the unacceptable captivity of Gilad Shalit and has also called for the release of Palestinian prisoners," and for years UN officials have "actively supported channels of dialogue to resolve this issue."
Ban "thanks Egypt for its contribution to this outcome, and Germany for its efforts," Nesirky said.
The UN leader now hopes "that more far-reaching steps will be taken to end the closure of Gaza and enable reconstruction."
Ban "continues to call in the same context for an end to the smuggling of weapons and a sustained calm between Israel and Gaza," Nesirky said.
