Israeli forces have begun raiding the homes of Palestinian prisoners slated for release under the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement, according to Palestinian media reports Sunday.
The IDF reportedly conducted searches and arrests across the West Bank, warning families not to hold public celebrations or hoist Palestinian flags upon the return of released inmates. Troops also cautioned relatives against organizing receptions that glorify terrorism or praise the prisoners as heroes, the reports said.
According to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office, IDF units entered the homes of eight prisoners in and around Nablus and three in the Hebron area overnight. All eleven are among the 250 security prisoners expected to be released in exchange for the 48 Israeli hostages still held captive in Gaza.
The list of prisoners includes individuals serving life sentences for deadly terror attacks. Of the total, 115 are expected to return to their homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, while 135 will be deported to Gaza or sent abroad. In addition, roughly 1,700 Gazan detainees arrested during the war are to be freed as part of the agreement.
Hebrew media reported that prisoners designated for release have already been transferred to two separate facilities. Those set to return to the West Bank are being held at Ofer Prison, north of Jerusalem, while those bound for Gaza or foreign countries were moved to Ketziot Prison in Israel’s southern Negev Desert.
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