Israeli troops prepare for release of hundreds of Palestinian terrorists to Judea and Samaria

The Israeli government has been preparing for the release of almost 2,000 prisoners and detainees as part of the hostage release and ceasefire deal approved by the Israeli cabinet over the weekend. 

Meanwhile, the IDF has also been making preparations for the release of dozens of dangerous terrorists back into the field, including the first batch of about 50 convicted terrorists and 40 other detainees on Sunday.

In all, 90 prisoners and detainees were released in the exchange on Sunday, including 78 residents of Judea and Samaria, and 12 residents of east Jerusalem.

The first batch included 69 women, eight men under the age of 18, and 12 men convicted of offenses like identifying with terrorism and disorderly conduct, Ynet News reported.

About 1,500 prison guards are taking part in the release procedure of the prisoners and detainees. They will first be concentrated at Ofer Prison north of Jerusalem, where they will meet with representatives from the Red Cross for a check before being transferred by the Red Cross to Ramallah for release. 

To prevent images of celebrating prisoners, as happened in the Gilad Shalit exchange as well as the last ceasefire in Nov. 2023, the prisoners will be transported in Israeli buses with blacked-out windows from Ofer Prison to the center of Ramallah. 

With Israeli statistics showing that some 80% of former security prisoners will return to terrorism, the IDF has been ramping up security measures across Judea and Samaria to combat the expected rise in terrorism.

The IDF has several goals in its preparations: to secure Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria in order to prevent repeat attacks, to prevent celebratory marches or demonstrations upon the release of the prisoners, and prevent an explosion of pro-Hamas activity. 

As part of its preparations, the IDF has reinforced its units in the area with seven combat companies, with the aim of strengthening the defense in the various areas. 

The military is also preparing for offensive operations to deal with the terrorists released who will try to resume terror activities. The IDF has activated several special units in Judea and Samaria and has resumed full coordination with the Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces.

The PA also expressed concern about the strengthening of Hamas in Judea and Samaria due to the release of terrorists as part of the deal. The PA has been engaging in counter-terror operations in the areas it controls in recent months. 

In the IDF's Central Command, all the terrorists set to be released have been identified, and possible escalation scenarios are being practiced. Recently, security forces in the Judea and Samaria Division conducted a counter-terrorism exercise, based on lessons learned from past experience in managing security operations. 

Along with developing a more aggressive approach to policing in the Palestinian Territories of Judea and Samaria, the IDF and Border Police have reportedly already begun to restrict travel between some of the Palestinian cities. Some of the entrances to several Palestinian cities have been closed or restricted to operating only in certain hours ahead of the prisoner release. 

At the same time, security forces are holding discussions with the relevant families who have been harmed by the terrorists set to be released. They are also meeting with the people of the Israeli settlements close to the villages to which the terrorists will be released. 

Security officials said the situation in Judea and Samaria is different than it was before Oct. 7, 2023. A security official asserted that forces will act firmly against any attempt by the released terrorists to establish new terror groups or infrastructure in the Palestinian Territories. 

"We’ll identify any attempted gatherings and act against any suspected terrorist activity. The gloves are off. We’re operating from the air and the ground. There's a shift in how we think about the area," a security official told Ynet News.