A former Palestinian prisoner, released as part of the sixth hostage-prisoner exchange, waves a flag as he is welcomed by friends and relatives upon arriving at the European Hospital in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP
Shortly thereafter, another bus of Palestinian prisoners left the Israeli Ofer prison and headed to the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, another AFP journalist reported.
The Detainees' Media Office said on Saturday that Israeli forces were raiding the homes of several Palestinian prisoners ahead of their release. At the same time, Al Jazeera reported a crackdown on Palestinians in Ramallah who had gathered to receive them.
Freed Palestinian prisoners are greeted by relatives in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip. AP
Quds News Network reported that among the 36 prisoners serving life sentences, 29 are from the West Bank and seven from Jerusalem. The Palestinian Prisoners' Club advocacy group noted the remaining 24 are expected to be deported.
A former Palestinian prisoner, released as part of the sixth hostage-prisoner exchange, is welcomed by friends and relatives upon arriving at the European Hospital in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP
Al Jazeera said the Palestinian Red Crescent was transporting four of the prisoners released today in serious condition to the hospital.
Palestinian resistance groups handed over 3 Israeli captives to the International Red Cross in exchange for the release of 369 Palestinian detainees as part of the sixth batch of the prisoner exchange deal.
Hamas threatened this week to delay the release of Israeli captives, scheduled for Saturday, until Israel met the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
The Palestinian group demanded that Israel allow the entry of tents and caravans to shelter displaced Palestinians, as well as bulldozers to clear debris and rubble in the strip.
The mother of an Israeli soldier held captive in Gaza said on Saturday that the prisoner exchange remained fragile because of Israeli government policies, not Hamas, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported.
Tens of caravans and bulldozers have waited since Thursday at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza to enter the strip as per the agreement but were denied entry by Israel.
Tel Aviv reiterated on Thursday that it would continue blocking the entry of heavy machinery to the strip.
However, Egyptian and Qatari mediators said on Thursday that they resolved obstacles to keeping the prisoner swap on Saturday per the ceasefire schedule.
Ziad Halabi, director of the Al-Arabiya Al-Hadath office in Palestine, cited sources saying Israel would allow the entry of mobile homes, tents, and heavy machinery into Gaza after receiving the three captives set to be released on Saturday.
Short link: