The families of four victims of terrorism have submitted pleas to the Israeli High Court of Justice asking that the release of more than 1,000 prisoners as part of the Gilad Shalit swap deal be delayed.
Should the appeal fail, the swap, brokered by the Israeli government and Hamas, largely without the involvement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, is due to happen on Tuesday.
In Israel, reaction to the deal has been mixed with many in favour of Shalit’s return, regardless of the price. However, families of victims murdered by Palestinian fighters have voiced their increasing disquiet at the proposed release.
Shalit, a sergeant in the Israeli Defence Force (IDF), was captured by Gaza militants while on a cross-border patrol in 2006. He was 19-years-old at the time.
His father is expected to attend Monday’s High Court hearing to make a statement.
In Israel, voices have been raised questioning the one-sided nature of the deal, especially as the Palestinian returnees could go back into active service. It has also been argued that such an influx of militants will bolster Hamas, which holds power in the Gaza Strip, further isolating Palestinian moderates.
Hamas has agreed that around 200 of those due to be returned will be deported from Palestine, however this has failed to placate some Israelis, especially as many of those due for release carried out recent crimes.
Included on the list is Abdel Aziz Salha, who killed two soldiers in Ramallah in 2002; Ibrahim Younis, who is responsible for killing seven people in Jerusalem in 2003; and Nasser Yateima, who planned the bombing of a hotel, which killed 30 people in 2002.
Ahlam Tamimi, who killed 15 people in a cafe in Jerusalem in 2001, is also scheduled to be freed. Family members of one of her victims are also expected in court.
Despite the pleas, the High Court is not expected to delay the deal.
Speaking to AP, Ron Kehrman, who lost his daughter in an attack on Haifa, said the swap would lead to more Israeli deaths. "Is the blood of the next captured soldier or citizen less red than the blood of Gilad Shalit?" he said.
Interviewed in the Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot, Mahmoud Zahar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, said that the deal would only encourage the capture of more Israeli soldiers.
"The lessons we've learned by kidnapping soldiers leads us to continue the kidnappings," he said.
Israel is currently holding around 5,000 Palestinian prisoners.
In the West Bank and Gaza, residents are preparing to celebrate the return of the prisoners.