Israel readies to release second group of Palestinian prisoners amid protest

Israel will release a second group of Palestinian prisoners on Tuesday night after the Supreme Court rejected an appeal objecting to the release.

Almagor, an organization representing bereaved families whose loved ones were killed in militant attacks, filed an appeal to the Supreme Court after the names of the prisoners to be released were published by the Israeli Prison Service.

The organization represented 20 families whose members were killed in attacks perpetrated by the security prisoners set to be released.

However, the court ruled that it has no jurisdiction in this matter and that it is a policy decided upon by the government.

In July, the Israeli government approved the release of 104 Palestinian prisoners who were locked in prior to 1993 for their part in carrying out militant attacks against Israelis.

The decision came amid the renewal of the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians in late July.

The 26 prisoners scheduled to be released on Tuesday contains 21 Palestinians from the West Bank and five others from the Gaza Strip, whereas a first group of prisoners was set free in August.

The five prisoners from the Gaza Strip has arrived Tuesday evening at the Erez crossing point between Gaza and Israel on their way home. The majority of the prisoners will be released on Tuesday night from the Ofer prison near Ramallah in the West Bank.

A spokesperson for the Israeli Prison Service told Xinhua that the prisoners who have undergone identification were medically examined and have met with members of the Red Cross on Tuesday.

In addition, the prisoners signed a document, in which they declared they will not resume militant activity against Israel.

The release takes place amid protests by right-wing lawmakers and families of bereaved families.

On Monday night, dozens of placards were placed on graves of fallen Israeli soldiers on Mount Hertzel in Jerusalem, reading " sorry we forgot, your death was in vain."

Thousands of people have protested near the Ofer prison on Monday, calling out against the government's actions.

Besides, the release brought up antagonism between the left and right wing markers in the Israeli government.

The nationalistic Jewish Home party came out against the decision to release prisoners and tried to establish a law that would prevent the release of Palestinian prisoners in the future, but to no avail.

The party accused chief negotiator and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni of the release of the prisoners, saying Livni is "trying to justify her stay in the government," according to a press release.

In turn, Livni and other members of her party accused the Jewish Home of incitement.

Other members of her party said the release of the prisoners was inevitable due to the nationalistic lawmakers' objection to freeze the construction in the West Bank settlements instead.