Israel has released 19 female Palestinian prisoners after receiving a video recording of a soldier held by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas for the past three years, Israeli officials said.
The DVD was delivered as Israel released the Palestinian women in its part of the exchange. Red Cross jeeps carried the women across to freedom.
Israeli officials said the video had been viewed and the swap was given the green light. A copy was being brought to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the officials said.
The video, said to show proof that 23-year-old Gilad Shalit is alive and well, may be a step towards ending his captivity. He is held by Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip.
Israeli TV has reported that the video shows Shalit to be healthy and 'coherent'.