The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced today, Friday, that the implementation of the prisoner exchange agreement between Israel and Hamas can begin the day after tomorrow, Sunday, subject to the approval of the political-security cabinet and the government of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.

Netanyahu's office said in a statement that "the release of the kidnapped soldiers can be carried out according to the aforementioned plan, in which the kidnapped soldiers are expected to be released on Sunday, subject to the approval of the cabinet and the government and the entry into force of the agreement."

After the agreement was signed last night, the Israeli army informed the families of the prisoners held in the Gaza Strip of the list of names that Israel had requested to be released and that Hamas had agreed to.

Israel is seeking to start releasing Israeli prisoners at 4 p.m. Sunday, if the Supreme Court rejects all petitions against the agreement.

The first stage of the agreement stipulates that Hamas will release 33 Israeli prisoners within 42 days. In exchange for five female civilian prisoners and two Israeli children, 210 Palestinian minors and female prisoners will be released; and in exchange for Hamas releasing five female Israeli soldiers, Israel will release 250 Palestinian prisoners, including 150 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences.

Israel will release 110 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences in exchange for Hamas releasing 9 “sick and wounded” Israeli prisoners; Israel will release 30 prisoners serving life sentences and 270 other prisoners in exchange for Hamas releasing 10 elderly prisoners; and Israel will release 60 Palestinian prisoners and 47 prisoners who were re-arrested after being freed in the Shalit deal, in exchange for Hamas releasing Avra Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who have been held in Gaza since 2014 and 2015.

Israel will also release 1,000 Palestinians it arrested in the wake of the October 7 attack, even though they did not participate in the attack.

Meanwhile, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir reiterated today that after the agreement is signed and if the government ratifies it, “we will withdraw from the government,” adding, “I love Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and I will work to ensure that he continues to be prime minister, but I will withdraw because the deal that was signed is absolutely disastrous.”

The Jerusalem District Court today approved Netanyahu's request to cancel Netanyahu's trial sessions next week, due to the prostate surgery Netanyahu underwent late last month. The Public Prosecution agreed to Netanyahu's request, and the court will resume hearing Netanyahu's testimony before it on January 27.