The second stage of a prisoner swap deal between Israel and Hamas should go into effect by December 19. The first stage of the high-profile prisoner exchange, which took place on October 18, saw the release of Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit after more than five years in captivity. Israel in turn freed 477 Palestinians jailed in Israel, and vowed to release another 550 security prisoners in a second stage within two months. Salah Al-Arouri, the Hamas member tasked with overseeing the exchange on behalf of his groups, said that the deal should thus be ready for implementation if Israel keeps to its end of the agreement. The second stage of the exchange involves two basic criteria, said Al-Arouri: Israel must release security prisoners, and said prisoners must be freed to their homes. Al-Arouri added that Hamas had delivered a list to Israel, via Egyptian mediators, a list of prisoners it hopes to see released, including the sick and elderly.
