The Israeli authorities have released 90 Palestinian prisoners as part of an agreement with the Hamas group, which previously handed over three hostages to the Israeli side.
Points of attention
- Israel has released 90 Palestinian prisoners as part of a deal with Hamas.
- These Palestinian victims were taken to Ramallah and their homes in East Jerusalem.
- Among those released are women, minors, and individuals who served time for minor offenses.
- The agreement provides for the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners as part of the ceasefire.
- Recent events indicate an improvement in relations between Israel and Hamas.
Israel releases nearly a hundred Palestinians as part of deal with Hamas
According to Palestinian sources, some of the released individuals were taken to Ramallah, as well as to their homes in East Jerusalem.
Ahead of the release of the Israeli hostages, the Israeli Prison Service transferred the first group of Palestinian prisoners to Ofer Prison in the West Bank. There, their identities were confirmed by security forces and Red Cross representatives, and they underwent medical examinations before their final release in coordination with the government.
לקול זיקוקים ושריקות: אוטובוסי הצלב האדום נכנסו לביתוניא עם 78 המחבלים והמחבלות שישוחררו בשטחי יהודה ושומרון pic.twitter.com/J4BffazjkY
— הוד בראל Hod Barel (@hod_barel) January 19, 2025
Among those released:
78 people are West Bank residents who were released at the Beituniya checkpoint near Ofer prison.
12 people are residents of East Jerusalem who were released from the Russian Complex prison and returned home.
שחרור האסירות הפלסטיניות בביתוניא | תיעוד@migansh5 pic.twitter.com/vrms5PToz9
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) January 20, 2025
In total, those released included 69 women, including one minor, 8 minor boys, and 12 men who were serving sentences for relatively minor offenses, such as incitement, support for terrorism, and disturbing public order.
Under the terms of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, Israel is to release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
The release came after Hamas handed over three Israeli hostages to the Red Cross in Gaza — the first hostage release since the ceasefire agreement came into effect.
Israel announces new ceasefire time
As noted, after receiving a list of hostages to be released on January 19, Israel announced that the ceasefire would take effect at 11:15 a.m.
The first phase of the ceasefire was originally scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. today. However, it was postponed due to a delay in the transfer of a list of names of three female hostages who are to be released on January 19.
An Israeli official told public broadcaster Kan that Hamas had given the names of the three women to mediators. According to media reports, Hamas will release the hostages:
Romy Gonen;
Emily Damari;
Doron Steinbrecher.
