Schalit was welcomed by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu as he landed at Tel Nof Air Force base in Rehovot earlier on Tuesday afternoon, before being reunited with his family.

As Schalit stepped out of the helicopter that brought him to the base, the prime minister said to him: “Welcome to Israel, it’s good that you’re home.”

Before Schalit met with his parents, Netanyahu told them: “I brought you back your child.” IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz also welcomed Schalit, calling him a hero.

When the helicopter landed, Gantz boarded it, Schalit saluted and then Gantz saluted back. “I am proud of you and the way you survived a difficult period,” the IDF chief told Schalit.