Israel is preparing to release 39 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the first 13 hostages
According to Israeli media, Israel has begun preparations for the release of 39 imprisoned Palestinian women and children in exchange for the 13 hostages that Hamas is scheduled to release this Friday. This is part of the four-day ceasefire agreement reached by both sides. .
The Israeli Prison Service has obtained the names of 39 Palestinian women and minors convicted of terrorism for their release, Israeli Channel 13 reported. They are scheduled to be transferred to Ofer prison in the West Bank around midday, where they will await the handover of those held by Hamas Hostages wait, which is expected to occur around 4:00 p.m. local time (3:00 p.m. in Spanish Peninsula Time). . According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, citing a statement from the prison service, these prisoners will be taken from Ofer to the Beitunia border crossing in the West Bank, from where they will return to their homes.
The hostage-for-prisoner exchange agreement calls for the release of 50 hostages captured by Palestinian militias in their October 7 attacks in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners. They will be delivered in smaller groups during the four-day ceasefire between the parties. If Hamas agrees to release more hostages – Israel puts the number of hostages at around 240 – Israel will extend the ceasefire for additional days, up to a maximum of ten.
In addition, it will allow hundreds of humanitarian aid trucks, including fuel tankers, to enter the Gaza Strip during the ceasefire days. According to Egyptian authorities, who mediated between Israel and Hamas as well as the United States and Qatar to reach the agreement, 200 aid trucks and 130,000 liters of fuel will arrive daily.
While international organizations have pushed for the ceasefire to become a permanent ceasefire, Israel has repeatedly insisted it will continue its offensive once the pause ends. (EFE)