Palestinian official warns of "possible crisis" as he accuses Israel of not abiding by terms of pris
A Palestinian official who focuses on Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails warned Saturday of a “possible crisis” in the deal for Hamas to release hostages from Gaza in exchange for Israel freeing Palestinian detainees.
Israel is not releasing prisoners in order of length of time served, Qadura Fares, the head of the Palestinian Commission for Detainees and Ex-Prisoners' Affairs, told CNN.
“There are indications of a possible crisis regarding the list of names announced by Israel due to Israel's failure to adhere to the agreed-upon criterion of seniority in the deal,” Fares said.CNN has asked Israeli officials for response to the accusation.
Fares made the comment as Israel prepared to release up to 42 more prisoners on Saturday, after releasing 39 women and teenagers on Friday. Under the deal, Israel is freeing three Palestinians from jail for every Israeli hostage allowed out of Gaza.
The Israeli prison administration has received the names of the 42 females and minors who are set to be released in the second batch of the deal, an Israeli official familiar with the process told CNN Saturday.
As with Friday’s releases, the process will begin with the transfer of detainees from the Megiddo and Damon prisons to the Ofer prison.
After the release of the Israeli hostages from the Gaza Strip, all the Palestinian prisoners will be released from Ofer via buses belonging to the Red Cross.
Prisoners from Jerusalem will be transferred to police stations in the city, and then released. Those from the West Bank were released at the Beitunia checkpoint on the outskirts of Ramallah on Friday.
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