RAMALLAH: Israel is set to release 90 Palestinian prisoners on Saturday in exchange for three Israeli captives, marking the fourth swap under the Gaza ceasefire agreement, according to a Palestinian advocacy group.
Amani Sarahneh, spokeswoman for the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, confirmed that 90 Palestinian prisoners, including nine serving life sentences and 81 with long sentences, would be freed in exchange for three Israeli detainees.
In a separate development, a Hamas official confirmed that the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt would reopen on Saturday following the prisoner exchange. The Rafah crossing, previously a critical entry point for humanitarian aid to Gaza, had been closed since Israel’s military takeover of the Palestinian side in May, which had drawn condemnation from Egypt, international organizations, and other countries.
The opening of the crossing will allow for evacuations of the injured in accordance with the ceasefire agreement. Gaza’s health ministry announced that the first group of sick individuals would be transported to Egypt for medical treatment on Saturday.
The European Union also agreed to restart its monitoring mission at Rafah, with 18 EU and local personnel, including security teams from Italy, Spain, and France. The mission aims to facilitate the daily transit of up to 300 wounded individuals and the movement of humanitarian supplies.
Meanwhile, the UN Palestinian relief agency (UNRWA) continues its work in Gaza despite an Israeli law that bans its operations on Israeli land, including annexed East Jerusalem, and restricts contact with Israeli authorities. UNRWA’s Director of Communications, Juliette Touma, emphasized that disruptions to the agency’s work could jeopardize the fragile ceasefire.
Touma also noted that UNRWA’s Palestinian staff in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are facing increasing hostility, including incidents of stone-throwing and delays at checkpoints. The agency has faced a strong disinformation campaign, adding to the difficulties for its staff.
