The Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office reported today (Wednesday) that Red Cross buses and vehicles are heading to the Kerem Shalom checkpoint in the Gaza Strip to prepare to receive the released Palestinian prisoners in the first phase of the exchange deal.

Israel and Hamas agreed through mediators today to bring forward the exchange, which was due to take place tomorrow (Thursday), to tonight.

The Israel Prison Service said it was preparing to release Palestinian prisoners as part of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas in Gaza, adding that it had received the list of prisoners to be released.

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said it would hand over the bodies of four Israeli prisoners: Tzahi Eidan, Itzik Algrat, Ohad Yahlomi and Shlomo Mentzor.