Timeline: how the Shalit prisoner swap will happen

Israel is to release a first tranche of 477 Palestinian prisoners as part of a two-stage deal to secure the release of captive soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been held for more than five years.

Exact details of the handover are being kept under wraps, but here is a timeline based on press reports and information from Israeli and Hamas sources about how Tuesday’s operation is expected to take place:

Stage 1: Overnight, 430 male prisoners to undergo final ID checks at Ketziot prison in the southern Negev desert, while the 20 others (14 from east Jerusalem, 6 Arab Israelis) and the women will undergo final checks at HaSharon jail near the coastal town of Netanya.

The women and the east Jerusalem contingent will be bused to Ofer near Ramallah after which the men will be taken to a police station in west Jerusalem.

Those destined for Gaza will be taken from Ketziot to the Kerem Shalom terminal on the Israel-Gaza border, and those who will return to the West Bank will be bused to Beitunia checkpoint near Ramallah.

Stage 2: In Gaza, Shalit will be taken to meet either a Red Cross representative or an Egyptian official who will confirm to Israel that he is alive and well.

Stage 3: Israel then releases 27 female prisoners: 21 to the West Bank, two to Gaza, one to east Jerusalem, one to Israel and one to Jordan, with the last prisoner to be exiled to Gaza.

Stage 4: Shalit will then be transferred into the Sinai via the Rafah crossing where he is likely to stay no more than 15 minutes.

Stage 5: On confirmation that Shalit has arrived in Sinai, Israel will order the release of 450 prisoners into Gaza and the West Bank, of whom:

- 300 will enter Gaza, either through Rafah or through Kerem Shalom;

- 96 will be freed at Beitunia checkpoint south of Ramallah;

- 14 prisoners from east Jerusalem to be freed from a police station in west Jerusalem;

- 6 Arab Israelis to be released from police stations near their homes;

- 40 prisoners facing exile to be handed to Egypt from where they will be sent to Turkey, Syria or Qatar.

Stage 6: As the prisoners are released, Shalit will cross into Israel, most likely via the Nitzana crossing, some 50 kilometers (35 miles) south of Gaza, where he will undergo a brief medical check and be able to call his family.

Stage 7: Shalit to be flown to Tel Nof air base near Tel Aviv where he will undergo further medical checks and be reunited with his family; he will also meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Chief of Staff Benny Gantz.

Stage 8: The Shalit family will be flown home to Mitzpe Hila in northern Israel.

- 6 Arab Israelis to be released from police stations near their homes;

- 40 prisoners facing exile to be handed to Egypt from where they will be sent to Turkey, Syria or Qatar.

Stage 6: As the prisoners are released, Shalit will cross into Israel, most likely via the Nitzana crossing, some 50 kilometers (35 miles) south of Gaza, where he will undergo a brief medical check and be able to call his family.

Stage 7: Shalit to be flown to Tel Nof air base near Tel Aviv where he will undergo further medical checks and be reunited with his family; he will also meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Chief of Staff Benny Gantz.

Stage 8: The Shalit family will be flown home to Mitzpe Hila in northern Israel.