Israeli Alert in Anticipation of Early Prisoner Release Operation Under Gaza Agreement

SadaNews - Israeli sources reported that the Israeli army has placed special units on alert in preparation for the release of Israeli prisoners in Gaza, at a time when the Israeli prison administration received orders for the release of Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli broadcasting authority reported, citing sources, that the army has put special units on alert in Gaza due to the possibility of releasing Israeli prisoners before tomorrow, Monday.

For its part, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper stated that the Israeli Prison Service received orders to release Palestinian security prisoners as part of the exchange deal, and clarified that the authorities began transferring security prisoners from 5 Israeli prisons to the facilities designated for their release.

The exchange deal includes the release of about 250 life-sentenced prisoners and approximately 1,700 prisoners from the Gaza Strip who were detained after October 7, 2023.

The Israeli site Walla reported from informed sources that the final list of Palestinian security prisoners includes 195 life-sentenced prisoners, adding that the Shabak security service imposed a veto on about 100 names and excluded 25 prominent leaders.

The Israeli authorities announced yesterday, Saturday, that they have gathered in two prisons the detainees expected to be released in exchange for the return of hostages in Gaza.

A circulated video clip in the Hebrew media shows Israeli security forces mistreating Palestinian prisoners, who are being gathered in the Negev prison (south) in preparation for their release.

The video shows a group of Palestinian prisoners with their hands tied behind their backs, forced to walk in a line blindfolded, with their heads bowed down, while surrounded by Israeli soldiers and police officers.

In describing the video, the Palestinian Prisoners Information Office (a non-governmental entity) stated that it documents a painful scene showing the brutal mistreatment of prisoners set to be released under the exchange deal.

Amjad Najjar, director of the Palestinian Prisoner Club, wrote on his Facebook account that the translation of the video indicates that they are serving life sentences and are being transferred to Negev prison in preparation for their deportation to Gaza as part of the deal.

Last Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Israel reached an agreement on the first phase of his plan for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange, which came into effect at 12:00 noon last Friday based on Jerusalem time (09:00 GMT), after the Israeli government approved the agreement at dawn.

Israel estimates that 48 prisoners are in the Gaza Strip, including 20 who are alive, while more than 11,100 Palestinians are imprisoned, suffering from torture, starvation, and medical neglect, with many having died, according to Palestinian and Israeli human rights and media reports.