Israeli Army boosts presence in Judea and Samaria ahead of prisoner release
The Israeli military is reinforcing forces in Judea and Samaria ahead of the release of hundreds of Palestinian terrorists due to begin today.

Israelis protest terms of the ceasefire outside the Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv on Jan. 16, 2025. Photo by Gideon Markowicz/TPS-IL
Seven companies will be deployed.
The first three Israeli hostages are set to be released on Sunday afternoon.
The complex exchange includes 737 Palestinian prisoners including some serving life sentences for terror attacks, and 1,167 Gazans detained during recent military operations who were not involved in the October 7, 2023 attacks. The deal sets a ratio of 30 Palestinian prisoners for each Israeli civilian hostage, with additional terms for special cases.
The 33 hostages to be released in the first phase are Liri Albag, Itzhik Elgarat, Karina Ariev, Ohad Ben-Ami, Ariel Bibas, Yarden Bibas, Kfir Bibas, Shiri Silberman Bibas, Agam Berger, Romi Gonen, Danielle Gilboa, Emily Damari, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Yair Horn, Omer Wenkert, Alexander Troufanov, Arbel Yehud, Ohad Yahalomi, Eliya Cohen, Or Levy, Naama Levy, Oded Lifshitz, Gadi Moshe Moses, Avera Mengistu, Shlomo Mansur, Keith Siegel, Tsahi Idan, Ofer Calderon, Tal Shoham, Doron Steinbrecher, Omer Shem-Tov, Hisham Al Sayed, and Eli Sharabi.
Mengistu and Sayed, have been held in Gaza since 2015 and 2014 respectively,
The final number of the terrorists to be released in the deal will depend on how many of the 33 hostages are alive. While many would be sent back to their homes in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, high-profile prisoners will be deported.
The most contentious aspect of the agreement is that the fate of the remaining 65 hostages will be determined by negotiations to begin on the 16th day of the ceasefire. Critics say the phased approach condemns hostages not freed in the beginning to open-ended captivity and undermines Israel’s war gains.
At least 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 95 remaining hostages, more than 30 have been declared dead.
TPS