The prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas has begun.  In a deal made last week, Israel agreed to release more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, some of them high-value, in exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit who has been held in captivity since 2006.  The Palestinian prisoners will be released over time with 447 prisoners released on Tuesday and the remaining 550 in two months.

The deal was met with opposition by some who believe it could lead to the abduction of more Israeli soldiers who could be used to leverage Palestinian demands.  But Israeli officials have faced pressure to secure Schalit’s return over the last five years.

Relatives of several victims killed by some of the Hamas prisoners slated to be released filed multiple appeals in an effort to block the prisoner release.  Israel’s Supreme Court ultimately decided not to block the exchange on Monday.

According to the Associated Press, the prisoner exchange was carefully orchestrated.

“Palestinians slated to be part of the initial part of the exchange have already been moved from their original prisons to other Israeli penal installations in preparation for their release. The very first group, 27 women, are to walk free sometime after dawn Tuesday.

After that, Hamas is supposed to move Schalit from Gaza through the Rafah border terminal into Egypt, where he will be met by Israeli medical personnel, according to Israeli defense officials.”

Once Schalit reaches Egypt, the remaining 400-plus prisoners will be set free by Israel.

Many of the released prisoners will not be allowed to return to Gaza under the agreement.

Who is Gilad Shalit?  Find out more here.