Prisoners Swap Deal Underway, Celebrations Prepared

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - In an unprecedented sign of victory to Palestinians and defeat to Israel, 1,027 Palestinian detainees will be freed today under a swap deal with the Israeli occupation authorities in exchange with its captured soldier Gilad Shalit.

This is the heaviest price Israel ever paid for one of its soldiers. Shalit is being freed under the terms of an Egyptian-mediated deal that will see Israel release a total of 1,027 Palestinian prisoners, including 477 in a first tranche on Tuesday.

Throngs of excited Palestinians gathered in the West Bank and Gaza from early Tuesday, preparing to greet prisoners released. Dozens of Palestinian detainees’ families were chanting, cheering and waving Palestinian flags.

Some in the crowds waved green flags of the Hamas movement, which inked the landmark exchange deal with Israel. The atmosphere was festive, with some chanting "national unity, national unity" and clapping their hands.

Hamas has declared Tuesday a national holiday and erected a giant podium in Gaza City's Al-Katiba Park, where it plans to transport the prisoners after they cross into the Palestinian enclave from Egypt.

Prime Minister Ismail Haniya and members of the de facto Hamas government in Gaza, leaders of other factions, relatives and tens of thousands of onlookers were expected to welcome the prisoners.
Three days of celebrations were planned across the occupied West Bank, with President Mahmoud Abbas welcoming returning prisoners.

"Shalit has been handed to the Egyptian side but will not be handed to the Israeli side until the arrival of all the Palestinian prisoners," a source from the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Ninety-six Palestinian prisoners left the Ketziot prison, bound for the Ofer military camp near the West Bank city of Ramallah, public radio reported early on Tuesday morning.

Another 334 were in the process of being transferred to the Karam Salem crossing, at the southern-most point of the Gaza border with occupied Palestine. The first prisoners were dressed in civilian clothes, with their hands and feet manacled, the radio report said.

A convoy of vehicles left the Israeli Katsiout prison in Naqab, near the Egyptian border, before dawn on Tuesday. Vehicles carrying female prisoners also left Hasharon Prison in central occupied territories.

Of the first tranche of prisoners to be released, 297 will be released into Gaza and 117 will return the West Bank, including 15 to occupied East Jerusalem.

Another 40 Palestinians will be deported overseas to countries which so far include Turkey, Syria and Qatar, Hamas officials said.

Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, has said that the prisoner swap marks a positive step towards “peace”. "The recent announcement of the exchange of prisoners is welcome, it is a positive movement for peace," he said.

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