The Israeli occupation army has intensified its repressive measures in the West Bank as the date for the release of 110 Palestinian prisoners approaches as part of the third batch of the prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas, under the ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

Despite the completion of the handover of Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip under the exchange deal, and the arrival of 3 Israeli prisoners and 5 Thai workers to Israel, the political leadership in Tel Aviv issued instructions to the security services to postpone the release of Palestinian prisoners.

The Israeli political echelon issued instructions to delay the release of Palestinian prisoners, and a security source said that the buses carrying prisoners that left Ofer prison stopped for a long time before receiving orders to turn back, indicating a decision to freeze the operation at the last minute.

"Just as the release of our captives was delayed, we are also delaying the release" of Palestinian prisoners, Army Radio quoted a senior Israeli official as saying. Kan 11 reported that the decision to suspend the release of prisoners came in response to scenes of the release of Israeli prisoners in Khan Yunis.

The Israeli army dropped warning leaflets via drones in the area where the released prisoners will be handed over in Ramallah, stating: “We will not allow demonstrations to be held in support of terrorist organizations. Anyone who participates in these activities exposes himself to arrest. We have warned you, we are watching you.”

The Commission of Prisoners' Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners' Club announced that specialized teams and institutions from the Ramallah Governorate are waiting to receive the third batch of released prisoners today, while a local source reported that an occupation force moved from Ofer Prison towards the town of Beitunia.

The Israeli occupation army issued a statement this morning, Thursday, stating that the forces of the "Judea and Samaria Division (occupied West Bank)" are continuing their preparations to confront what it described as the expected "security disturbances."

The occupation army indicated that its forces had carried out a series of "preemptive" arrests during the past week, targeting Palestinians who were alleged to be "inciters" to "stir up riots," and they were transferred for investigation by the Israeli security services.

The statement explained that the General Security Service (Shabak) held warning talks with the families of a number of prisoners expected to be released, in an attempt to deter any celebratory manifestations or popular mobilization, while military forces were reinforced in the West Bank, especially at checkpoints and barriers.

The Israeli army added that it "continues its intensive operations to confront any possible scenarios," whether "offensive or defensive," stressing that its forces will take "immediate action" against any attempts to protest or celebrate the release of the prisoners.

Palestinian sources reported that the Israeli occupation forces stormed the homes of Jerusalemite detainees in Silwan and Shuafat in occupied Jerusalem, who are included in the lists to be released today, as part of the prisoner exchange deal.

Local sources said that the occupation forces raided a number of homes of prisoners scheduled to be released today, including the homes of: prisoner Amir Faroukh, prisoner Muhammad Al-Abbasi from the town of Silwan, south of Jerusalem, and Muab Abu Khudair in the Shuafat camp.

The occupation forces summoned a number of families of the Jerusalemite detainees who are scheduled to be released in the third batch of the prisoner exchange, noting that 18 Jerusalemite detainees are scheduled to be released today, including prisoner Muhammad Faroukh, who was sentenced to 19 years, and prisoner Abd Duyyat, who was sentenced to 18 years, and who will be excluded.

The occupation forces also stormed the homes of prisoners Mustafa Abu Rida in the town of Qasra, and Hussein Nassar in the town of Madama, south of Nablus, who are scheduled to be released today. Local sources reported that the occupation forces threatened their families and asked them not to celebrate their release.

The sources added that the occupation forces fired gas and sound bombs in Qusra during the storming operation.

These Israeli measures come within the framework of the occupation's ongoing approach to targeting any Palestinian manifestations of joy over the release of prisoners, as its forces have previously intensified their operations of repression, arrests and attacks when implementing previous batches of the deal.

For its part, the Prisoners’ Media Office announced that the occupation will release tomorrow 32 prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment, 48 prisoners with high sentences, in addition to 30 child prisoners, as part of implementing the terms of the deal. It is worth noting that this exceptional batch was approved in light of Israel’s pretext for not releasing prisoner Yehud, in the previous batch, to obstruct the return of the displaced to the northern Gaza Strip.