Israel to Release 602 Palestinian Prisoners in Gaza Swap
RAMALLAH: Israel is set to release 602 Palestinian detainees on Saturday as part of a prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas, facilitated under the ongoing ceasefire in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club advocacy group.
Among those to be freed, 445 individuals from Gaza were arrested following Hamas’ attack on October 7, which triggered the current conflict. Additionally, 60 prisoners are serving lengthy sentences, 50 have life sentences, and 47 were re-arrested after being released in a 2011 prisoner swap, said Amani Sarahneh, a spokesperson for the NGO, in a statement to AFP on Friday.
Sarahneh also noted that 108 of those being released would be deported outside Israel and the Palestinian territories.
Hamas to Release Six Israeli Prisoners
Meanwhile, Hamas’ military wing confirmed that it would release six Israeli captives from Gaza on Saturday as part of the ceasefire agreement with Israel.
The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades issued a statement on Friday reaffirming their commitment to the scheduled handover.
Earlier this week, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, an Israeli advocacy group, released the names of the six individuals set for release: Eliya Cohen, Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert, Hisham Al-Sayed, and Avera Mengistu.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that they had been officially informed of the names of the six captives, with Hamas sources indicating that the release is expected at approximately 8:30 a.m. local time (0630 GMT).
Investigation into Identification Error
On Friday, Hamas announced that it was investigating a possible error in the identification of human remains handed over to Israel as part of the ceasefire deal. This comes after Netanyahu warned of consequences for Hamas’ failure to return the body of Israeli captive Shiri Bibas.
Under the agreement, Hamas was expected to transfer the remains of Bibas and her two sons, Kfir and Ariel, along with those of a fourth Israeli prisoner.
Four bodies were handed over, and Israeli officials confirmed the identities of Bibas’ two children and the fourth prisoner, Oded Lifshitz. However, forensic specialists determined that the fourth body belonged to an unidentified woman rather than Bibas. She, along with her sons and husband, Yarden, had been captured during the October 7 attack.
Basem Naim, a senior member of Hamas’ political bureau, stated that errors could occur, particularly due to the impact of Israeli airstrikes, which have left thousands of bodies buried under rubble.
“We emphasize that it is neither in our values nor in our interest to withhold any remains or to violate agreements we have signed,” Naim said in a statement.
Hamas assured that it is investigating the Israeli claims and will provide clarification once the review is completed.
The public handover of the four coffins on Thursday sparked outrage in Israel, with Netanyahu warning of potential retaliation.
In November 2023, Hamas claimed that Bibas and her children had been killed in an Israeli airstrike. Ismail Al-Thawabta, director of the Gaza government media office, reiterated this stance, holding Netanyahu “fully responsible for their deaths.”
