Israel’s Prison Service said on Saturday it was preparing 42 prisoners for release, suggesting Hamas would release 14 Israeli prisoners in return, media reported.
There has been no official Israeli announcement on the number of hostages to be freed on Saturday, though Hamas handed a list of names to the authorities late Friday, the AP said
It was not immediately clear how many non-Israeli prisoners may also be released.
After weeks of negotiations, Hamas on Friday released the first batch of prisoners it had agreed to set free under a truce deal with Israeli regime that came into effect in the morning.
Hamas combatants took 237 people into captivity from Israeli-controlled occupied territories in October 7 attack known as Al-Aqsa Storm Operation. Under the deal for a four-day truce, Hamas is to release 50 unarmed prisoners in exchange for the release of 150 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel and a pause in fighting. However, more than those numbers might be released, officials indicated, according to Al Jazeera.
MNA/PR