Israel publishes prison swap list Sunday, 16 October 2011 10:25

JERUSALEM:  Israel has published the names of 450 Palestinian prisoners who are to be released in exchange for the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

Israel's President Shimon Peres has begun the process of pardoning them, his office said.
They are set to be freed on Tuesday in the first phase of the deal. A further 577 prisoners are to be released later after Sgt Shalit returns home.

Shalit was seized by Palestinian militants in 2006, aged 19.

The deal to release the soldier was announced last Tuesday following years of on-off negotiations.

The list of prisoners included in the deal was released publicly early on Sunday morning.

Israelis who object to the swap have 48 hours to appeal to Israel's highest court to intervene, before the prisoners are freed, the (BBC) reported.

Hamas officials say Yehia Sanwar, one of the founders of the group's militant wing, is also included in the swap. Sanwar was sentenced to multiple life sentences.

Shalit is to be transferred from Hamas custody to Egypt, who would then hand him over to Israel. (QNA)