Families of prisoners set for release said raided by troops amid bid to squelch celebrations

Palestinian media report that the IDF has begun raiding the West Bank homes of Palestinian security prisoners set to be released in exchange for hostages as part of the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire deal.

Troops reportedly carried out searches and arrests across the West Bank, warning families against hosting receptions celebrating the release of their relatives, outwardly praising terror, or hoisting Palestinian flags upon their return.

The army raided the homes of eight prisoners slated for release in and around Nablus, along with the homes of three prisoners in Hebron and its surrounding area, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office says.

Israel is expected to release 250 prisoners, all serving life sentences for terror offenses, in exchange for the 48 hostages still held captive in Gaza.

Of these terror convicts, 115 will return to their homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, while another 135 will be sent to Gaza or deported abroad. Another 1,722 Gazan detainees arrested over the course of the war are also to be released.

The prisoners have already been transferred to two detention facilities pending their release, Hebrew outlets report.

Similar to the waves of prisoner releases under February’s hostage deal, West Bank-bound prisoners were taken to Ofer Prison north of Jerusalem while Gaza-bound prisoners and deportees were gathered at Ketziot Prison in the Negev.