(AP Photo)- RAMALLAH/CAIRO — The Israeli authorities on Saturday released 200 Palestinian
prisoners as part of the second phase of a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas.
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- Abdullah Zaghari, head of the Palestinian Prisoners Club,
said the prisoners were handed over to the International Committee of the Red
Cross (ICRC).
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- Some prisoners were released into the West Bank from Ofer
Prison while others bound for Gaza or deportation abroad were released from
Negev Prison in southern Israel.
Also read: Four Israeli female soldiers return home in 2nd swap deal with Hamas
- Palestinian officials in the Ramallah Governorate also
coordinated the release.
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- According to eyewitnesses, the prisoners were transferred
from the ICRC to a medical centre in Ramallah, where the Palestinian security
forces were stationed in preparation for the release.
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- Among those released, 16 headed to Gaza. Palestinian
security sources and eyewitnesses told Xinhua news agency that the prisoners
entered Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing southeast of the strip.
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- According to the Palestinian Prisoners' Affairs Authority,
the 200 prisoners included 121 who had been serving life sentences and 79
others with long sentences.
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- Meanwhile, 70 prisoners will be deported abroad. Turkey,
Tunisia, and Algeria have agreed to take in some prisoners, while others will
stay in Egypt.
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- An informed Egyptian source said that Egyptian authorities
are gearing up to receive the prisoners at the Rafah crossing.
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- The Palestinian prisoners were released following the
earlier release of four Israeli female soldiers previously held in Gaza, who
had arrived at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, near the Israeli city of Tel
Aviv, in two helicopters.
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- Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister's Office said in a
statement on Saturday that Israel will not allow Palestinian residents to
return to their homes in the northern Gaza Strip for the time being.
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- The statement noted that the ban will apply until the
release of Israeli civilian Arbel Yehud, who was scheduled to be freed on
Saturday but was not among the four Israelis released by Hamas, is arranged.
