Synopsis
On February 1, Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners in a significant exchange as part of the ongoing truce with Hamas. This marked the fourth such swap amidst a limited ceasefire deal, which began on January 19.Key Takeaways
- Israel freed 183 Palestinian prisoners in a recent swap.
- Release part of a larger ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
- Majority of prisoners were from Gaza, with a few from the West Bank.
- Three Israeli hostages were also released in the exchange.
- Emotional reunions were documented after the hostages' return.
Gaza, Feb 1 (NationPress) Israel has released 183 Palestinian detainees on Saturday as part of the fourth prisoner-for-hostage exchange under the ongoing ceasefire agreement with Hamas, according to sources from Palestine.
Abdullah Zaghari, the president of the Palestinian Prisoners Club, informed Xinhua news agency that the released individuals were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross by Israeli officials.
Out of those freed, 150 came from the Gaza Strip, 32 from the West Bank, and one, who possesses Egyptian citizenship, will be sent back to Egypt.
Prisoners from the West Bank were liberated from Ofer Prison situated near Ramallah, while those from Gaza were released from Ketziot Prison in southern Israel, and they would be transported to southern Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing, which is under Israeli control, Zaghari added.
Local eyewitnesses reported that buses carrying the released Palestinians arrived in Khan Younis, located in southern Gaza.
The commission for prisoners' affairs of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation announced in a press statement that among the 183 released individuals, seven prisoners will be deported, though the specific countries for their relocation were not disclosed.
The release of these Palestinian detainees coincided with Hamas' release of three Israeli hostages earlier that day, marking the fourth such exchange during the initial phase of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. This agreement was initiated on January 19 and the first phase is set to last for six weeks.
The hostages released by Hamas included 54-year-old Israeli-French citizen Ofer Calderon, 35-year-old Israeli civilian Yardan Bibas, and 65-year-old Israeli-American hostage Keith Siegel, all after spending 484 days in captivity.
Post-release, the hostages were taken to the IDF's Reim base near the Gaza border, where they had emotional reunions with their families before being transported to hospitals in central Israel for further medical evaluations. Heartwarming videos of these reunions were shared by the IDF.
These recent releases occurred shortly after the return of three other hostages -- Agam Berger, Arbel Yehud, and Gadi Moses -- on Thursday.
Earlier in the day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his joy at their return and attributed the successful rescue to Israel's military efforts and a strong negotiating stance.
"This release was made possible largely due to the heroism of our soldiers, and it was also the result of the steadfast and determined approach we maintained during negotiations," Netanyahu remarked.
