Israel Transferring Palestinian Prisoners

Tel Aviv has begun transferring Palestinian prisoners to jails in the south and central Israel, ahead of their upcoming release within the next few days.

Israeli Radio said that the transfer measure took place early Sunday, DPA reported.

The prisoners are scheduled to undergo checks in the Ketziot prison and in the Sharon facility in central Israel.

The inmates that will return to Gaza should first go to Egypt, where they are scheduled to cross into the coastal enclave via the Rafah border crossing.

The Israel Prison Service overnight published the list of the first group of Palestinian prisoners, who are set to be released in exchange for captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

The list includes 477 prisoners expected to be freed on Tuesday. Palestinians will free Shalit simultaneously.

The second stage of the swap, which includes 550 names, is expected to occur later this year.

Earlier this week, the Palestinian resistance movement of Hamas and the Israeli regime reached a prisoner swap deal.

Shalit was captured in June 2006 by Palestinian fighters. Hamas demanded the release of 1,400 Palestinians held without charge in Israeli prisons in exchange for the Israeli soldier.

(Press TV)

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