Israel, Hamas Reportedly Reach Deal on Gilad Shalit

The 25-year-old soldier could soon return to Israel after spending five years in captivity in Gaza.

The Israeli government says it has a plan in place with Hamas to free Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who's been held by the Palestinian Islamist group for five years. Shalit, now 25, was captured in 2006 by Hamas forces in Gaza, where he's remained ever since, although his exact location has never been made public. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says a prisoner exchange between the two is imminent, although the number of Palestinian prisoners to be freed has yet to be confirmed. Israel had previously offered to free as many as 1,000 prisoners for Shalit's return, although Hamas has repeatedly rebuffed such offers, saying it's not the number of prisoners, but their calibre. The current deal is reportedly now before Netanyahu's cabinet, which is expected to vote in favour of the exchange.