Israel’s prison authorities are preparing to release hundreds of Palestinians from its jails under an anticipated Gaza cease-fire and prisoner exchange deal with Hamas, Israeli media said on Wednesday.
Public broadcaster KAN said discussions were held in recent weeks to update executive orders and procedures related to the release of Palestinian detainees.
“This move builds on lessons learned from previous deals, particularly the swap agreement of November 2023,” it added.
In November 2023, Israel released 240 Palestinians, including 71 women and 169 children, in exchange for 81 Israelis and 24 foreigners held in Gaza.
KAN said prison authorities are worried about two major challenges: possible mass unrest inside prisons and celebrations by the freed prisoners.
“The prison service discussed several options to address these challenges, including the deployment of special units … to ensure control over any potential disturbances,” it said.
The service “will use buses equipped with tinted windows to prevent the prisoners from being seen from outside the buses, to reduce the manifestations of celebration,” KAN added.
Israel currently holds more than 11,000 Palestinian prisoners, while it is estimated that 98 Israelis are detained in Gaza. Hamas said that many Israeli captives have been killed in indiscriminate Israeli airstrikes.
Qatar said on Tuesday that Gaza cease-fire negotiations are in their “final details” and that announcing an agreement is “imminent.”
Hamas also confirmed that a Gaza cease-fire and prisoner swap agreement is in “its final stages.”
Israel has continued a genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed more than 46,600 people, most of them women and children, since a Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.
In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
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