Israel Releases 90 Palestinian Prisoners as Part of Ceasefire Agreement
In a significant move following the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, Israel freed 90 Palestinian prisoners in the early hours of Monday. This decision aligns with the terms of the ceasefire that came into effect on Sunday morning, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Earlier, Hamas had released three individuals who were taken hostage during the October 7 attacks on Israeli territory—Doron Steinbrecher, Emily Damari, and Romi Gonen, all women.
Around 1 AM, a bus carrying the freed Palestinian prisoners departed from Ofer prison, located near Ramallah in the West Bank. While the Israeli government has not revealed the identities of those released, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that among the 90 prisoners, there were 62 women, including one minor, and 28 men, of whom eight were minors.
The specific crimes for which the prisoners were serving time remain undisclosed; however, Haaretz noted that none of the released individuals had been convicted of murder. According to a report from Reuters, most of the prisoners had only recently been incarcerated and were awaiting trial at the time of their release.
Upon their release, the bus made its way to various cities in the West Bank, where the liberated individuals were met with enthusiastic crowds celebrating their return.
As part of the first phase of the ceasefire, it is anticipated that Israel will ultimately release approximately 1,900 Palestinian prisoners, while Hamas is expected to release about 33 Israeli hostages. Currently, around 95 hostages are believed to be held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and Israeli authorities suspect that about one-third of these individuals may be deceased.
The ceasefire agreement, which was ratified on Friday and commenced on Sunday, outlines a gradual release process for hostages and also entails the return of bodies of individuals who had died during the conflict. This development brings a glimmer of hope amid the ongoing strife and underscores the importance of dialogue in resolving aspects of this long-standing conflict.
The releases mark a step forward, with many viewing it as a potential catalyst for further negotiations and peace talks in the region.
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