Israel expected to release Palestinian prisoners in next few hourspublished at 08:39 BST
Tom Bennett
Reporting from Jerusalem
Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesIsraeli military vehicles gather at Ofer prison ahead of the prisoner release scheduled for later today
As well as the release of Israeli hostages, we’re also expecting to see the release of 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 detainees from Gaza, including 22 children, in the coming hours.
Reports in Israeli media suggest the prisoners are now being prepared to leave Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank.
The names of the prisoners to be released were published by Israel’s justice ministry on Friday.
As far as we understand, the list does not include seven high-profile names Hamas had demanded as part of the exchange – including Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat – despite last-minute negotiations on Sunday.
Dozens of families have been waiting since the early morning hours outside the prison for the release of their relatives. According to the plan, about 100 prisoners are to be released to the West Bank, with others set for deportation to Gaza or Egypt, and a small number to be released into East Jerusalem.
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