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Israel is to release 550 Palestinian prisoners in the second and final phase of a swap with Hamas that brought home an Israeli soldier after five years in captivity.
Sunday's release will complete an Egyptian-brokered deal to exchange a total of 1,027 prisoners for Gilad Schalit, who was captured by Gaza fighters in June 2006. Schalit returned home in October when Israel freed the first batch of 477 prisoners.
The prisoners that Israel freed in the first round included dozens of fighters serving life sentences for involvement in deadly attacks. Their release set off ecstatic celebration in the Palestinian territories.
Under the terms of the deal, Israel gets to choose the prisoners being freed on Sunday. Prison officials said most are serving light sentences or near the end of their terms, and only 41 were returning to Gaza.
More than 500 were being sent to the West Bank, and most of them were believed to be linked to Abbas' Fatah movement.
'Great achievement'
In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said the movement welcomed the release of all prisoners, regardless of their political affiliation.
"We are proud of this great achievement," he said.
He said Hamas leaders would welcome all returning prisoners, and offer them assistance with housing, employment and finding a spouse.
After the release, some 4,250 Palestinians will remain in Israeli prisons for “security-related offences”, the Israel Prison Service said. That is down from almost 5,300 before the Shalit deal, although new arrests have since been made, and others have been released.
PHOTO CAPTION
A man decorates the house of a Palestinian prisoner set to be freed in the West Bank city of Bethlehem.
Al-Jazeera
