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Second phase of prisoner swap ready

Palestinian relatives celebrate the liberation of hundreds of jailed Palestinians at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza on Oct. 18. 114 more prisoners are expected to be released soon. UPI/Ismael Mohamad
Palestinian relatives celebrate the liberation of hundreds of jailed Palestinians at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza on Oct. 18. 114 more prisoners are expected to be released soon. UPI/Ismael Mohamad | License Photo

JERUSALEM, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Israeli prison officials listed 114 Palestinian detainees to be freed in the second phase of a prisoner swap, the Palestinian Prisoners Society said Wednesday.

Israel released 477 prisoners Oct. 18 and agreed to free an additional 550 detainees within two months in a deal with Hamas to secure the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

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Israeli media said the remaining prisoners would be released soon if the country's top court rejected petitions against the release, Ma'an news agency said.

Haaretz said the Israeli government worked with Egypt to choose which prisoners would be released. None of the prisoners had been convicted of killing Israelis, the official said.

Most detainees selected for release are affiliated with Fatah, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the official said.

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