‘Israel’ lists 250 Palestinians detainees to be released, concludes first withdrawal phase from Gaza

• ‘Israel’ to release 250 detainees under Gaza ceasefire, excluding senior leaders like Marwan Barghouti. 
• Deal swaps 250 detainees and 1,700 Gazans for 48 captives. 
• First phase of withdrawal already complete. 

The ‘Israeli’  Ministry of Justice published Friday a list of 250 Palestinians detainees to be released in exchange for 'Israeli' captives in Gaza, as part of a ceasefire deal with Hamas.

The list does not include the names of several senior Palestinian leaders whose release Hamas demanded.

Read more: 'Israeli' army says Gaza ceasefire came into effect at 0900 GMT

Among those denied release are Marwan Barghouti, Ahmad Saadat, Hassan Salameh, and Abbas al-Sayyed, all serving life sentences in ‘Israeli’ prisons.

Barghouti, described by many as the “Palestinian Mandela” was arrested in 2004 on murder charges. 

‘Israel’ and Hamas have agreed on the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire and captive–detainee exchange deal, based on a 20-point plan proposed by US President Donald Trump.

According to the plan, ‘Israel’ will release 250 detainees and around 1,700 Gazans taken since the offensive began two years ago. 

In return, Hamas will hand over 47 captives still held from the 251 taken on Oct. 7 2023.

The remains of one more captive, kept in Gaza since 2014, are also expected to be returned.

‘Israel’ has already completed the first phase of its withdrawal from the strip, starting the 72-hour countdown for the release of captives, a top White House envoy said Friday, citing the Pentagon.

“The US military’s Central Command has confirmed that the Israeli Defense Forces completed the first phase withdrawal to the yellow line at 12PM local time,” Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff said on X. “The 72 hour period to release the hostages has begun.”