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Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners early Monday, hours after three Israeli hostages released from Hamas captivity in Gaza returned home. Fireworks erupted as large white buses carrying the detainees left Israel’s Ofer prison just outside the West Bank city of Ramallah. Crowds of Palestinians rushed to the buses, chanting slogans. According to a list from the Palestinian Authority’s Prisoner Affairs Commission, all of those released were women or minors.
Israel had detained all those on the list for crimes related to state security, from stone throwing to more serious charges such as attempted murder. The Israeli army, which occupies the West Bank, has repeatedly warned Palestinians against any kind of public celebration.
Accused of spoiling the atmosphere
The release took place at midnight, which Palestinians criticized as an attempt to spoil the atmosphere and prevent crowds from welcoming the prisoners home. The most prominent of the detainees to be released is Khalida Jarrar, 62, a prominent member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, or PFLP, a secular leftist group that was involved in kidnappings and other attacks against Israel in the 1970s.
Died in Israeli airstrike
Since her arrest in December 2023, Jarrar had been held under administrative detention orders indefinitely. Dalal Khasib, the 53-year-old sister of the late senior Hamas official Saleh Arouri, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Beirut in January 2024, is also being released along with Abla Abdelrasol, the wife of imprisoned PFLP leader Ahmed Saadat.
Two thousand prisoners will be released
The swap deal, scheduled as part of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, includes the gradual release of 33 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Palestinian territory over the next six weeks in exchange for Israel releasing about 2,000 prisoners.
The war between Israel and Hamas, which has been going on for more than a year, has temporarily stopped on Sunday. With this, the horrific destruction going on in Gaza has stopped. Under the ceasefire agreement, 3 Israeli hostages have been released by Hamas and they have reached Israel. All the hostages who have been released are women. At the same time, now Israel has also released 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees under the agreement.
Mostly women and minor children
Most of the Palestinian prisoners arrested by Israel include women and minor children. Israel had detained all the people included in this list for crimes related to the security of the country, from stone pelting to more serious charges like attempted murder.
When will other prisoners be released?
If the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continues, the next phase of prisoner exchange will take place on January 25, which is already scheduled. In the next exchange, Hamas will release 4 female hostages of Israel. After this, Israel will release 30-50 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for each hostage.
What are the terms of the agreement?
The first phase of ceasefire between Israel and Hamas can be of total 42 days. Hamas’ condition is that in the first phase of the ceasefire deal, the Israeli army will move 700 meters back to its territory from the Gaza border. In the first phase of the ceasefire deal, Hamas can release 33 hostages, including 5 women. On the other hand, Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for this. After 15 days, Hamas will release the remaining hostages. Meanwhile, both sides will discuss a permanent ceasefire.
