An Israel Prison Service (IPS) convoy carrying 25 Egyptian nationals freed in a prisoner swap to gain the release of an Israeli-American held in Cairo on Thursday noon headed towards Taba crossing point in the southern port city of Eilat.
The nine vehicles are due to arrive at the crossing and the Egyptians will be handed over at 5 p.m. (1500 GMT), IPS Spokeswoman Sivan Weizman told Xinhua.
In parallel, Egyptian authorities will put Ilan Grapel, 27, on a flight to Tel Aviv, after being held four months on espionage charges, which were later lessened. Grapel, who is to be accompanied by his mother, will be returned to Israel, and travel to Jerusalem for a short meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement earlier in the week, when the deal was agreed upon, that the Egyptians, which include three minors, were not held on security charges. They were convicted on drug and smuggling charges, according to the IPS.
