Gilad Shalit: For families in Israel and Gaza, a welcome negotiation

After five years in Hamas custody, Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit will return home to Israel in exchange for 1000 Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

The Shalit family, who had been critical of the Israeli government's lack of progress in their negotiating their son's return hail the news as a welcome development.

Commenting on the swapping of Gilad for 1000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody, the majority of whom are women and minors, Shalit's father tells the media the details of the negotiations are between the Israeli government and Hamas leaders.

Al Jazeera's Cal Perry reports from Jerusalem.