Detainees expect word of releases in days

Palestinians detained in an Israeli jail say they expect to be informed on Tuesday which of them will be released in the second stage of a prisoner release deal between Hamas and Israel. Detainees in the Negev prison told Ma'an on Monday that the timeline for the releases has not been confirmed by Palestinian prisoners' representatives or the Israeli prison administration, but they expect to be transferred to Israel's Ofer prison on Wednesday before release on Sunday. Israeli officials in the prison have not denied that some prisoners will be released, but will not say who or when, the detainees said. The October deal specified the release of 550 prisoners by Dec. 19, officials say, after 477 prisoners were freed and Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit released from Gaza in the first stage.