Prisons Service says it will transport Palestinian prisoners slated for release in Gaza deal, not Red Cross

The Israel Prisons Service says it is gearing up to process the release of Palestinian security prisoners as part of the hostage-ceasefire deal with Hamas.

According to a leaked copy of the agreement, over 1,700 Palestinian prisoners are to be freed in return for 33 Israeli hostages in the first phase of the deal: 700 terrorists, 250-300 of whom are serving life terms; 1,000 Gazans captured since October 8 in fighting in the Strip; and 47 rearrested prisoners from the 2011 Gilad Shalit deal.

A statement from the Prisons Service says that Israeli authorities will facilitate the first part of the prisoners’ transport, not the Red Cross, to ensure that “the terrorists do not deviate from the strict security guidelines and refrain from any expression of joy within Israeli territory.”

Implementation of the deal is slated to begin on Sunday.