US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hailed the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit on Tuesday as the \"end of a long ordeal,\" talking to reporters during a visit to Libya. \"We are pleased that a long ordeal... has ended for Gilad Shalit,\" who walked free after more than five years in the hands of Islamist militants in Gaza, she said. He was held \"far too long.\" \"We are also hopeful that Ilan Grapel will be released,\" the secretary of state said, referring to a US-Israeli dual national held in a Cairo prison. A deal to free Grapel in exchange for 81 Egyptians detained in Israel is imminent, unnamed Israeli officials told public radio on Monday.