Israel lists 477 Palestinians to be freed for Shalit
Israelon Sundayreleased a list of 477 Palestinian men and women, who would comprise the first batch of prisoners to be released on Tuesday in exchange for captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, as part of a landmark swap deal with Hamas.Speeding up the process, Israel began transferring Palestinian prisoners to jails in the south and centre of the country to prepare for the high-profile swap. The swap is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, a week after a deal was sealed between Israel and Hamas to free the soldier in exchange for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners.
Shalit has been held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip since he was taken captive in a cross-border raid in June 2005.
The prisoners are scheduled to undergo checks in the Ketziot prison, near the border with Egypt, and in the Sharon facility in central Israel.
Those returning to Gaza, will be going to Egypt first, from where they are scheduled to cross into the coastal enclave via the Rafah border crossing.
The Israel Prison Service overnight published on its website the list of prisoners it is to release on Tuesday in exchange for Shalit.
The list contains the names of 450 male prisoners, including 280 inmates serving life sentences, and 27 female prisoners.
All prisoners received official notice about their impending release this morning.
The second stage of the deal will see 550 additional prisoners chosen by Israel being released.
The publication will also allow for opponents of the deal to present petitions to Israel's High Court against its implementation.
However, the signing of the pardons won't occur until the outcomes of the appeals against the swap deal are decided.
The court is already scheduled to hear a petition tomorrow filed by the Almagor Terror Victims Association to annul the Shalit deal. Last evening, the files of the Palestinian prisoners to be released were delivered to President Shimon Peres' residence so they can be approved for pardons.
Over the next two days, the files will be prepared for consideration by Peres.
The organisation also petitioned the court to extend the period of time that the Justice Ministry had given the public to voice their objections to the deal.
Some 477 prisoners in 16 Israeli jails are being transferred since morning to the Ketziot and Hasharon Prisons.
On Tuesday they will be released to Egypt, Gaza and the West Bank in exchange for Shalit.
Three small buses left the Damon Prison in north Israel carrying 15 female prisoners.
"Finally we are able to breath some air," Israel Radio reported one of them as saying before boarding the bus.
Police blocked a nearby road as officers escorted the buses to the Hasharon Prison.
Prison Service forces and buses also entered the Nafha Prison near Mitzpe Ramon to extract more than 200 security prisoners and transport them to the Ketziot Prison.
Some of the inmates managed to stick their hands out of the police vehicles' windows and gesture "V" signs.
The prisoners underwent medical exams before heading to the new location.
Prisoners held in the Megiddo Prison, who are also part of the deal, left for Ketziot under heavy security.
Security prisoners in the Shatta and Gilboa prisons were transferred to Megiddo and will be moved to Ketziot later in the day.
Meanwhile, the news agency reported that Hamas is insisting that 10 additional female prisoners be released, to which Israel has firmly objected
Shalit has been held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip since he was taken captive in a cross-border raid in June 2005.
The prisoners are scheduled to undergo checks in the Ketziot prison, near the border with Egypt, and in the Sharon facility in central Israel.
Those returning to Gaza, will be going to Egypt first, from where they are scheduled to cross into the coastal enclave via the Rafah border crossing.
The Israel Prison Service overnight published on its website the list of prisoners it is to release on Tuesday in exchange for Shalit.
The list contains the names of 450 male prisoners, including 280 inmates serving life sentences, and 27 female prisoners.
All prisoners received official notice about their impending release this morning.
The second stage of the deal will see 550 additional prisoners chosen by Israel being released.
The publication will also allow for opponents of the deal to present petitions to Israel's High Court against its implementation.
However, the signing of the pardons won't occur until the outcomes of the appeals against the swap deal are decided.
The court is already scheduled to hear a petition tomorrow filed by the Almagor Terror Victims Association to annul the Shalit deal. Last evening, the files of the Palestinian prisoners to be released were delivered to President Shimon Peres' residence so they can be approved for pardons.
Over the next two days, the files will be prepared for consideration by Peres.
The organisation also petitioned the court to extend the period of time that the Justice Ministry had given the public to voice their objections to the deal.
Some 477 prisoners in 16 Israeli jails are being transferred since morning to the Ketziot and Hasharon Prisons.
On Tuesday they will be released to Egypt, Gaza and the West Bank in exchange for Shalit.
Three small buses left the Damon Prison in north Israel carrying 15 female prisoners.
"Finally we are able to breath some air," Israel Radio reported one of them as saying before boarding the bus.
Police blocked a nearby road as officers escorted the buses to the Hasharon Prison.
Prison Service forces and buses also entered the Nafha Prison near Mitzpe Ramon to extract more than 200 security prisoners and transport them to the Ketziot Prison.
Some of the inmates managed to stick their hands out of the police vehicles' windows and gesture "V" signs.
The prisoners underwent medical exams before heading to the new location.
Prisoners held in the Megiddo Prison, who are also part of the deal, left for Ketziot under heavy security.
Security prisoners in the Shatta and Gilboa prisons were transferred to Megiddo and will be moved to Ketziot later in the day.
Meanwhile, the news agency reported that Hamas is insisting that 10 additional female prisoners be released, to which Israel has firmly objected
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