Captive-detainee exchange underway in first phase of Gaza Ceasefire Deal

Occupied Jerusalem: The exchange of Palestinian detainees and Israeli captives in the Gaza Strip began Monday morning as part of the initial phase of...

Occupied Jerusalem: The exchange of Palestinian detainees and Israeli captives in the Gaza Strip began Monday morning as part of the initial phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) receiving seven Israeli captives. Meanwhile, Palestine Red Crescent Society crews entered Ofer Prison, west of Ramallah, to transfer a sick Palestinian detainee slated for release.

The first phase of the plan proposed by US President Donald Trump to end the war in the Gaza Strip includes the release of all living Israeli captives held in Gaza -- a total of 20 people -- in two groups. In addition, 28 bodies will be handed over gradually, depending on the progress of recovery efforts under the rubble in the Gaza Strip.

In exchange, Israeli occupation authorities will release 250 Palestinian detainees serving life sentences, along with 1,718 detainees from Gaza who were arrested after the war began on Oct. 7, 2023.

Authorities have transferred detainees designated for release from five central prisons to Ofer Prison, west of Ramallah, and others to Ketziot Prison in the Negev, in preparation for their transfer to the Gaza Strip and subsequently to Egypt.

The swap process is being conducted under the supervision of an Egyptian-Qatari-US joint committee, which monitors the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.