Justice Ministry adds two additional names to prisoner release list

The Ministry added two additional names to the list: Ahmad Raad Zaid Faroukh and Ahmad Mohammad Nayef Al-Hawamdeh.

 Red Cross vehicle is seen near the Ofer Prison, near Jerusalem, January 19, 2025 (photo credit: REUTERS/SINAN ABU MAYZER)
Red Cross vehicle is seen near the Ofer Prison, near Jerusalem, January 19, 2025
(photo credit: REUTERS/SINAN ABU MAYZER)

The Justice Ministry updated the list of prisoners who will be released on Saturday, the ministry announced Friday.

It added two additional names to the list: Ahmad Raad Zaid Faroukh and Ahmad Mohammad Nayef Al-Hawamdeh.

The government is approving the updated number of Palestinian prisoners to be released in the first phase of the hostage deal to 736. 

Released prisoners'

Ninety Palestinian prisoners were released in exchange for the three Israeli hostages - Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari - released from Hamas captivity on Sunday.

 Palestinian terrorists attend Hamas rally Solidarity with Al-Aqsa in Jabalia, northern Gaza April 7, 2023 (credit: REUTERS/AARAFAT BARBAKH)
Palestinian terrorists attend Hamas rally Solidarity with Al-Aqsa in Jabalia, northern Gaza April 7, 2023 (credit: REUTERS/AARAFAT BARBAKH)

The Palestinian prisoners were transferred from various prisons across the country to the Ofer Prison in the vicinity of Jerusalem. There, they underwent security and identity checks in addition to medical examinations before being subsequently released. 

Red Cross buses transferred 78 prisoners to the Bitunya checkpoint in the West Bank ahead of their release there, while Israeli police were set to oversee the transfer of 12 prisoners to east Jerusalem.