Tel aviv: A circulated video Saturday showed Israeli security officers abusing Palestinian prisoners assembled at the Negev prison in southern Israel, ahead of their release as part of a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Hamas-affiliated Palestinian Prisoners' Media Office published the video on its digital platforms, citing Israeli media sources. The footage shows a group of Palestinian detainees with their hands tied behind their backs, forced to walk in a line while blindfolded and bending their heads downward, surrounded by Israeli soldiers and police officers.
The Prisoners' Media Office described the video as documenting a painful scene of brutal mistreatment of prisoners by the occupation, scheduled for release under the exchange deal. Amjad al-Najjar, head of the Palestinian Prisoners' Club, noted on Facebook that Israeli media published the video from the Negev Desert Prison, showing preparations for the release of several Palestinian prisoners. He added that the video's translation indicates those shown are prisoners serving life sentences, being transferred to the Negev prison in preparation for their deportation to Gaza as part of the deal.
Israeli forces raided the home of Murad Id'ees, set for release under the deal, during an incursion into the Beit Amra area south of Hebron in the southern West Bank, as reported by the Prisoners' Media Office. Witnesses told Anadolu that Israeli troops also raided the homes of several prisoners in the West Bank, warning families not to hold public celebrations upon their relatives' release. Homes raided included those of Khalil Abu Aram and Taleb Makhmara in Yatta, south of Hebron.
Earlier Saturday, several Palestinian prisoners contacted their families in the West Bank to express their joy about their expected release on Monday, according to Al-Quds newspaper and circulating videos. The Israeli Prison Service confirmed the transfer of Palestinian prisoners to the facilities from which they will be released. Media reports indicated the releases are expected to begin Monday once Israel recovers its captives held by Hamas.
Under the exchange deal, 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences and 1,700 detained in Gaza since the war began in October 2023, will be released in exchange for 48 Israeli hostages. Israel's Justice Ministry published Friday the names of the 250 prisoners serving life terms included in the exchange, although the Palestinian Prisoners' Media Office denied reaching consensus on the lists.
Tel Aviv estimates that 48 Israelis are being held in Gaza, with 20 still alive, while over 11,100 Palestinians are imprisoned in Israel, suffering from torture, starvation, and medical neglect, conditions that have led to deaths, according to Palestinian and Israeli human rights and media reports. Phase one of the Gaza ceasefire agreement took effect at midday Friday, with Israeli forces completing a gradual withdrawal to the so-called yellow line, triggering a 72-hour window for the exchange process.
Phase two reportedly envisions creating a new governing mechanism in Gaza without Hamas, forming a joint security force of Palestinians and troops from Arab and Islamic countries, and disarming Hamas. Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have resulted in almost 67,700 Palestinian deaths, most of them women and children, leaving the enclave largely uninhabitable.