GAZA CITY — The Gaza-based Prisoners Media Office announced Saturday that lists of Palestinian prisoners scheduled for release as part of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement with Israel will be published daily before each exchange. This follows an agreed-upon mechanism between the two sides.
The office clarified that the publication of the first phase's prisoner list by Israeli authorities is solely an Israeli initiative.
It emphasized that the release mechanism aligns with the number and categories of prisoners to be freed, a process that will continue throughout the first 42-day phase of the agreement.
“The lists will be published before each exchange day, according to the mechanism agreed upon in the ceasefire terms,” the office stated.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry confirmed earlier Saturday that the ceasefire in Gaza would go into effect at 8:30 a.m. local time (0630GMT) on Sunday.
The agreement, announced Wednesday, aims to end over 15 months of deadly Israeli attacks on Gaza.
Israel’s Justice Ministry has published a list of 735 Palestinian prisoners to be released, in addition to a previous list containing 95 names.
However, Thaer Shreith, spokesperson for the Palestinian Commission of Detainees’ Affairs, raised concerns over errors in the initial list.
He noted the inclusion of names of previously released female prisoners and the omission of complete details for 10 others.
Shreith urged mediators from Qatar and Egypt to address these discrepancies, stressing that Israeli authorities should not be allowed to create confusion among Palestinian families awaiting the release of their loved ones.
The ceasefire agreement comes after months of intense conflict, which local health authorities report has claimed nearly 46,900 Palestinian lives, mostly women and children, and left over 110,600 injured since October 7, 2023.
In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.
The ceasefire agreement, brokered by Qatar, includes three phases aimed at halting hostilities, exchanging prisoners, and facilitating Gaza’s reconstruction. The implementation of these phases will be closely watched by the international community as efforts to stabilize the region continue. — Agencies