Zakaria Zubeidi, Mahmoud Atallah among high-profile terrorists set for release Thursday

Israel is expected to free a number of high-profile terrorists tomorrow in exchange for the three Israeli hostages slated for release tomorrow — Arbel Yehoud, Agam Berger, and Gadi Mozes.

Among the 110 prisoners to be released are Zakaria Zubeidi, Mahmoud Atallah, and Ahmed Barghouti, according to multiple Hebrew media reports. Authorities have yet to give official information on the prisoners to be set free.

Zubeidi, who will return home to the West Bank, organized dozens of attacks during the Second Intifada while heading the al-Aqsa Martyr’s Brigades in Jenin. He was one of six prisoners who briefly escaped from Gilboa prison in 2021, before being recaptured.

Atallah, who is serving a life sentence for murdering a Palestinian woman suspected of collaborating with Israel, will be released to Nablus. He was indicted last September for repeatedly sexually assaulting female guards at Gilboa Prison.

Barghouti, a senior military official in Fatah, received 13 life sentences for carrying out a series of terror attacks during the Second Intifada that killed 12 Israelis. He will be deported abroad via Egypt.

Of the 110 prisoners to be released tomorrow, 33 are serving life terms for deadly attacks, 47 are serving long prison terms, and the remaining 30 are women and minors, according to Kan.

Prisoners will be transported to two main reception points, Ofer and Ktzi’ot prisons, before being released home or deported, says a Prison Service spokesperson.

After the three Israeli hostages are confirmed to have returned, prisoners headed for the West Bank will be escorted by the Red Cross to a release point, and those being deported or released into Gaza will be escorted by the special Prison Service units to the Kerem Shalom Crossing.

No prisoners will be exchanged for the five Thai hostages slated to be freed tomorrow, since they are being released under a separate agreement between Hamas and Thailand.