Shalit says captors treating him well

JERUSALEM, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Israel freed a group of Palestinian prisoners following verification by security officials of a video tape of captured soldier Gilad Shalit, officials said.

"Shalom I am Gilad, son of Noam and Aviva Shalit, brother of Hadas and Yoel," Gilad Shalit said in the first video tape of him since his kidnapping more than three years ago.

Shortly after Gilad's family saw the 2.42-minute video Friday, it was broadcast on the major Israeli television networks.

Shalit was on operational duty near Gaza in June 2006 when he was kidnapped in a cross border raid and taken to Gaza where he has been held since.

Holding a copy of the Falastin al-Youm published in Gaza and dated Sept. 14, Gilad read prepared remarks from a page held inside the newspaper.

Dressed in olive green military fatigues, he was clean-shaven, but appeared extremely thin. After reading from the page, he walked towards the camera before sitting down in the white plastic chair.

"I have waited a long time for the day of my release and I hope the current government led by Binyamin Netanyahu will not waste time in reaching a deal, ...," he said.

The prime minister's office issued a statement saying Netanyahu holds Hamas responsible for Gilad's health and well-being. Netanyahu said the tape is an encouraging sign.

Hagai Hadas, the Israeli envoy charged with negotiating Shalit's release, OK'd the release of 19 female prisoners at crossings in the West Bank and Gaza after the tape was handed over, Maariv reported.

On Wednesday, Israel agreed to release 20 female prisoners in exchange for proof Shalit is alive and well. One of the women was released Thursday because her sentence had been completed.