The first batch of Egyptian prisoners of war held by Israel was repatriated today. The group included 499 prisoners. The entire 5,000 will be sent back in ten such groups, one a day except Saturday.
The four Israel prisoners in the hands of the Egyptians will be repatriated after about half the Egyptians have been released, probably on the fifth or sixth day of the exchanges. The entire action was carried out under the supervision of International Red Cross Committee representatives.
The POW’s were brought to a point half-way between UN-held El Arish and Israel-occupied Raffah in Israeli trucks. The prisoners dismounted, were checked off lists and then were assigned places in trucks driven by UN chauffeurs. An Israeli representative also turned over to the Red Cross representatives approximately 2,000 letters from prisoners to their families in Egypt.
The next batch of prisoners will be exchanged about 15 miles east of today’s position, because by that time Israel troops will have evacuated more Sinai territory. From El Arish on, the UN force which takes over from Israel will consist of Swedish contingents. The Yugoslav soldiers who followed the Israelis from Suez to El Arish will remain in that town.
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