Israel’s justice ministry has said 737 prisoners and detainees will be freed as part of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal approved Saturday.
In a statement on its website, the justice ministry said “the government approves” the “release (of) 737 prisoners and detainees” currently in the custody of the prison service.
Two sources close to Hamas told AFP three Israeli women soldiers would be the first to be released on Sunday evening.
The women may, in fact, be civilians, as the militant group refers to all Israelis of military age who have undergone mandatory military service as soldiers.
An Israeli military official said reception points had been established at Kerem Shalom, Erez and Reim, where hostages would be joined by doctors and mental health specialists before being “transported via helicopter or vehicle” to hospitals in Israel.
Israel “is then expected to release the first group of Palestinian prisoners, including several with high sentences”, a source said on condition of anonymity.
During talks on Friday, negotiators agreed to form a joint operations room in Cairo to “ensure effective coordination” and compliance with the truce terms, Egyptian state-linked media reported.
French President Emmanuel Macron said French-Israeli citizens Ofer Kalderon and Ohad Yahalomi were among hostages due to be freed in the first phase.
Biden said the second phase could bring a “permanent end to the war”.
In aid-starved Gaza, where nearly all of its 2.4 million people have been displaced at least once, humanitarian workers worry about the monumental task ahead.
“Everything has been destroyed, children are on the streets, you can’t pinpoint just one priority,” Doctors Without Borders coordinator Amande Bazerolle told AFP.
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