Israel is set to release 602 Palestinian prisoners on Saturday, including 50 individuals sentenced to life imprisonment and 60 others with lengthy prison terms, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Media Office in Gaza.

The release marks the first phase of a significant prisoner swap deal following the submission of the names of six Israeli hostages by Palestinian factions.

The 602 prisoners to be freed include 47 Palestinians detained in connection with the 2011 “Shalit Deal”, who had been rearrested. Additionally, 445 Palestinians from Gaza, detained since the October 7, 2023 escalation, will also be released as part of the agreement.

Earlier on Friday, Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, announced the names of the six Israeli captives who will be released as part of the seventh batch of the prisoner swap.

This release follows Israel's prior commitments under the swap agreement, during which 1,135 Palestinian prisoners have already been freed, including several life-sentenced individuals. In exchange, Israel has received 19 captives and four bodies of its citizens. Another six Israeli captives and four more bodies are expected to be handed over next week, marking the completion of the first phase of the deal.

However, negotiations for the second phase of the agreement, originally scheduled for February 3, have been delayed by Israel.

This release comes after Israel’s brutal military campaign in Gaza, which has claimed the lives of at least 48,300 people, mostly women and children, leaving the region devastated. In light of these actions, Israel faces criminal charges at the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity, as well as a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.

The prisoner swap deal follows a ceasefire agreement that brought a temporary halt to the Israeli genocidal aggression in Gaza, but the humanitarian crisis continues as the region recovers from the devastating impact of Israel’s actions. (ILKHA)