Israel Prison Service begins to process 39 Palestinian terror convicts to be released under hostage deal

The Israel Prison Service has received a list of 39 Palestinian terror convicts who are expected to be released today as part of the hostage deal that will also see the freeing of 13 hostages from Gaza on Friday. Friday (November 24) is the first day of the four-day truce agreed upon by Israel and Hamas under which more such exchanges are expected to take place. The deal is also subject to an extension if Hamas agrees to release more hostages. The Israel Prison Service has reportedly started processing 39 Palestinian underage and female inmates for their release later today. After they are released, the prisoners will be taken to Ofer Prison in the West Bank following which they will be freed.

Israel and Hamas started a ceasefire in Gaza on Friday that appeared to be holding shakily with no major reports of bombings, artillery strikes, or rocket attacks. However, both sides were accused of violations.

The first pause in a 48-day-old war began at 7 am (0500 GMT), involving a comprehensive ceasefire in north and south Gaza, the release of 13 Israeli women and child hostages by the militants later in the day and aid to flow into the devastated Palestinian enclave.

Lebanon’s Al-Mayadeen TV reported that no sounds of bombing were heard in Gaza since the start of the truce. But it said Israeli forces were preventing residents from returning to their homes in the densely populated northern part of the enclave.

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With inputs from Reuters