Israel's President Shimon Peres has begun the process of pardoning them, his office said.

They are set to be freed on October 18 in the first phase of the deal. A further 550 prisoners are to be released after Sgt Shalit returns home.

Sgt Shalit was seized by Palestinian militants in 2006, aged 19.

The deal to release him was announced on October 11, following years of on-off negotiations.