The footage depicts a group of Palestinian detainees, their hands tied behind their backs and eyes blindfolded, forced to march in a line with their heads bowed as soldiers and police officers surround them.
The footage shows Palestinian detainees with their hands tied behind their backs and eyes blindfolded, forced to march in a line with their heads lowered while soldiers and police officers surround them, according to Al Jazeera.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office, a non-governmental organization, described the video as “a painful scene that documents the brutal mistreatment of prisoners slated for release under the exchange deal.”
Amjad Al-Najjar, director of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, wrote on Facebook that the video’s translation indicates the prisoners shown are serving life sentences and are being transferred to the Negev Prison before their deportation to Gaza under the agreement.
According to the Prisoners’ Media Office, Israeli forces also raided the home of Murad Id’eis, one of the prisoners expected to be released, in Beit Amra, south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank.
Eyewitnesses told Anadolu Agency that Israeli troops stormed several homes of prisoners’ families across the West Bank, warning them not to hold celebrations when their relatives are released.
Among those targeted were the homes of prisoners Khalil Abu Aram and Taleb Makhmara in the town of Yatta, south of Hebron.
Earlier on Saturday, several Palestinian prisoners reportedly contacted their families in the West Bank, expressing joy over their expected release on Monday, according to the Palestinian daily Al-Quds and videos circulating online.
Under the agreement, Israel is set to release 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, along with about 1,700 detainees captured from Gaza after 7 October 2023.
The ceasefire between Hamas and Israel took effect at noon on Friday, Jerusalem time (09:00 GMT), after the Israeli government approved it earlier that morning.
Israeli authorities estimate that 48 Israeli captives remain in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
Meanwhile, more than 11,100 Palestinians remain in Israeli prisons, where human rights groups report harsh conditions including torture, starvation, and medical neglect, conditions that have led to several deaths.
Israel’s public broadcaster Kan reported Saturday evening that Israeli captives are expected to be released from Gaza on Monday morning as part of the ongoing exchange process.
Citing unnamed sources, the broadcaster said the Israeli army has placed special units on high alert in Gaza in anticipation of a possible early release.
On Friday, the Israeli Ministry of Justice published a list of 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences who are set to be freed under the ceasefire deal.
However, the Shin Bet intelligence agency reportedly opposed the release of 25 senior prisoners.
The Prisoners’ Media Office said no final agreement on the release lists has yet been reached.
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