Politics Reports: Israel releases prisoners after hostage handover

SDA

25.1.2025 - 14:39

Military vehicles stand in front of the Israeli Ofer prison in the West Bank city of Beitunia on Saturday, January 25, 2025. Palestinian prisoners were to be released here. Photo: Nasser Nasser/AP/dpa
Military vehicles stand in front of the Israeli Ofer prison in the West Bank city of Beitunia on Saturday, January 25, 2025. Palestinian prisoners were to be released here. Photo: Nasser Nasser/AP/dpa
Keystone

Following the release of four Israeli hostages by Hamas, Israel has reportedly begun releasing 200 Palestinians from prison in accordance with the Gaza Agreement. According to Palestinian sources, around 130 prisoners were taken to Ramallah in the West Bank. Their families are waiting for them there.

Keystone-SDA

Around another 70 Palestinian prisoners are on their way to Egypt. According to the agreement, they will be taken abroad because of their serious crimes. The Israeli newspaper "Haaretz" reported that the prisoners had arrived at the Kerem Shalom border crossing in the southern Gaza Strip. From there, they are to be taken to the Rafah border crossing and transferred to Egypt, according to the Egyptian state-affiliated television station Al-Kahira. According to reports, many will travel on from there to other countries such as Qatar and Turkey.

The agreement stipulates that Israel will release 50 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails for every female soldier released, including 30 people serving life sentences.

According to Israeli media, Wael Kassem, who is said to have been involved in bomb attacks in Israel that left dozens dead, is among the prisoners released on Saturday.

Hamas had previously released four female Israeli soldiers held in the Gaza Strip as part of a ceasefire agreement.

The ceasefire, which Israel and Hamas agreed on ten days ago, is initially set to last six weeks. It came into force last Sunday. Just under a week ago, Hamas had already released three civilian women abducted from Israel in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners. A total of 33 hostages and 1,904 Palestinian prisoners are to be released within the six weeks.