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Jerusalem – Palestinian security prisoners set to be released from Israeli prisons on Saturday as part of the ongoing hostage and ceasefire deal will be shown a video depicting the extensive destruction in the Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported on Friday.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Operations Directorate, in collaboration with the Israel Prison Service (IPS), produced the three-minute video. The footage aims to provide released prisoners with an understanding of the war’s destructive scale, which they may not have been aware of during their time in custody.
According to reports, the video will be screened for the prisoners shortly before their release. The decision stems from the belief that many detainees have been isolated from information regarding the full extent of the damage in Gaza since the war erupted.
Uncertainty Over Release List
Despite preparations for the upcoming prisoner release, the IPS has not yet received the official list of detainees set to be freed on Saturday. The delay follows a pattern seen in previous waves of prisoner exchanges, where Hamas published the list of hostages to be released only after significant delays.
The latest phase of the agreement marks the continuation of a series of prisoner exchanges that have taken place under the first phase of the deal. So far, over 580 Palestinian detainees have been released from Israeli prisons as part of the arrangement.
Rising Prison Population Amid Releases
While Palestinian prisoners are being freed as part of the hostage deal, Israel’s overall prison population has continued to rise. The IPS reported that the total number of incarcerated individuals, which includes both criminal and security prisoners, has increased by 298 detainees since the war began.
As of today, Israeli prisons hold 23,741 inmates, of whom 10,197 are classified as security prisoners, while 13,544 are criminal prisoners. Despite this increase, the IPS stated that its budget has not been adjusted to accommodate the growing prison population.
The number of criminal detainees has also grown during the war, contributing to the strain on the prison system. The IPS has emphasized that the rising numbers, coupled with an unchanged budget, have placed additional pressures on prison facilities and resources.
Ceasefire Deal and Hostage Releases
The release of Palestinian prisoners is part of the broader ceasefire and hostage exchange deal, which aims to secure the freedom of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. In recent weeks, multiple rounds of exchanges have taken place, with both sides adhering to the negotiated terms. However, the process has been marred by logistical challenges, including last-minute delays and disputes over the lists of individuals to be freed.
The upcoming release on Saturday marks another step in the ongoing effort to ease tensions and facilitate further negotiations. However, with the situation in Gaza remaining dire and Israeli security concerns still high, the broader implications of these releases remain uncertain.
As the deal progresses, both Israeli and Palestinian authorities continue to navigate the complexities of war, ceasefire agreements, and prisoner exchanges, with the impact of these releases being closely watched on both sides of the conflict.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
