Israel Releases 90 Palestinian Prisoners in Ceasefire Deal

Occupied Palestine (Quds News Network)- Israeli occupation authorities released early on Monday 90 Palestinian prisoners as part of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal, hours after three Israeli captives were freed from the enclave.

Reports said the buses left Israel’s Ofer prison in the early hours of the morning. Ahead of their release, the Israeli prison service transported detainees to the military facility in the occupied West Bank on Sunday.

Israeli security forces and representatives from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) carried out medical and identity checks, before releasing them in coordination with the Israeli occupation government.

Who Are the 90 Inmates?

Among those freed were 78 Palestinians from the occupied West Bank, who were transported to the Beitunia checkpoint near Ofer prison.

Twelve Palestinians from occupied East Jerusalem were also transported back to the city, where they were released to their homes after being briefly held at the Russian Compound detention centre.

Sixty-two women were freed, of whom one is a minor. An additional 28 men were released, including eight minors.

Among them was Khalida Jarrar, 62, a leading member of the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, who had been held for six months in solitary confinement under “administrative detention”, which allows Israeli occupation to jail Palestinians indefinitely without charge or trial.

Bushra al-Tawil, a Palestinian journalist jailed in Israel in March 2024, was also among the prisoners.

Three Israeli Captives Released

Israeli captives Emily Damari, 28, Romi Gonen, 24, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, were handed over on Sunday evening to the Red Cross by Hamas.

The Red Cross vehicles took off from Gaza City in the heavily besieged northern part of the enclave after Hamas brought the captives to as-Saraya Square as a crowd gathered.

The ceasefire deal is set to roll out in three phases and includes sending in many more humanitarian aid trucks into Gaza to alleviate the disaster in the enclave. The first stage will last 42 days as Israeli forces pull out of parts of Gaza.

Hamas military spokesman Abu Obeida said in a televised speech that the Palestinian group is committed to the agreement, but continued implementation will depend on Israel’s reciprocity.

A deal could have been achieved over a year ago and was blocked by the “malicious ambitions” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Obeida added.

The exact number of Palestinians due to be released as part of the ceasefire deal is still unknown, with reported estimates ranging from approximately 1,000 to nearly 2,000.

In the first phase of the deal, Hamas is expected to return a total of 33 Israeli captives – with the next release due on Saturday.

The second phase of ceasefire negotiations is due to begin in two weeks.

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