Gaza braces for prisoner exchange as Red Cross leads preparations

The city of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza saw intensive logistical preparations early Monday as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) led efforts to facilitate a long-anticipated prisoner exchange between 'Israel' and Hamas.

The operation, expected to begin in the morning, marks a crucial first step in implementing the recently announced ceasefire agreement.

Rows of buses lined up outside Red Cross offices in Deir al-Balah as Red Cross representatives and Egyptian organizations coordinated final movements. According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), these buses will be used to transfer Palestinian political prisoners included in the exchange deal.

'Israeli' media also reported last-minute adjustments to the release list. Channel 12 said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government held phone consultations overnight to revise the names, lowering the total number of prisoners from 1,722 to 1,718.

The exchange comes on the heels of a ceasefire brokered through international mediation, aimed at ending a two-year war. The swap represents the most sensitive and symbolic step of the deal’s first phase, a phase that will determine the strength and credibility of the truce moving forward.

Global attention is now focused on Gaza, where the success or failure of Monday’s exchange could shape the next stages of the political process. A smooth operation would reinforce the ceasefire, paving the way for broader regional negotiations aimed at achieving long-term stability.