Under the terms of the truce, Israel is required to release 250 prisoners, including some serving life sentences for deadly attacks.
Demonstrators hold placards during a protest against the government, urging action to secure the release of Israeli hostages held captive since the October 7, 2023 attacks by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, outside the Israeli Defence Ministry in Tel Aviv on January 18, 2025, a day before a ceasefire approved by Israel and Hamas is set to take effect. (Photo by Jack GUEZ / AFP)
In anticipation of their release as part of the Gaza ceasefire accord, Israel has commenced transferring prisoners to two correctional facilities, a move intended to pave the way for the liberation of hostages being held by Hamas, as confirmed by the prison service on Saturday.
According to a statement, thousands of staff, including corrections officers, worked throughout the night to implement the government’s decision, which established a framework for the release of all Israeli hostages.
The truce agreement stipulates that Israel will release 250 prisoners, including individuals serving life sentences for deadly attacks. In return, Hamas has until Monday to hand over its 48 remaining Israeli hostages, both living and deceased.
Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, a further 1,700 Palestinians, who have been held in detention by the Israeli military since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, will be released.
The Israeli prison service has announced that the 250 detainees are being transferred to Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank and to Ketziot in southern Israel’s Negev desert, close to the border with Egypt.
The detainees will remain in these facilities pending a decision by Israeli leaders on the continuation of the operation, which aims to secure the return of hostages to Israel.
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