Slowly readjusting: Gilad Shalit ,accompanied by his father Noam, left his Galilee hometown of Mitzpe Hila for a few hours on Saturday morning, for the first time since his release from Hamas captivity on Tuesday.
Shalit was released after nearly five and a half years in captivity.
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Gilad Shalit ventures out of Mitzpe Hila
(צילום: עידו בקר)
The two used a side road to drive out of Mitzpe Hila at around 8:15 am, and according to Ynet's sources they headed to a nearby beach, at Gilad's request. They returned about three hour later.
On Saturday afternoon, the family issued a short statement saying that Gilad spent the weekend seeing friends and getting reacquainted with his old hobbies. "Family and friends are slowly introducing Gilad to the current reality, different things in the world of computers etc. He's also been reading newspapers."
Gilad, the statement said, "continues with his recuperation. He is eating well and gaining his strength back."
- For full coverage of Shalit's homecoming click here Several additional details regarding Shalit's time in captivity emerged on Friday, pertaining mostly to the conditions of his confinement. 📷 Going to the beach. Gilad and Noam Shalit (Photo: Hagai Aharon) Upon his release Shalit was visibly frail, pale and malnourished. On Friday, a Shalit family relative of told Ynet that while Gilad was not starved, "he was not provided with a nutritional diet." According to Noam Shalit, his son is also suffering from the effects of prolonged sunlight deprivation. Ahiya Raved contributed to this report
First published: 12:03, 10.22.11