200 Palestinian prisoners released to jubilant scenes in West Bank

[Pelican Press 0]

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200 ************ prisoners released to jubilant scenes in West Bank

A total of 200 ************ prisoners have been released to jubilant scenes in the West Bank after Israel freed them in exchange for four female hostages held by ****** in Gaza.

More than half of the 200 released had been serving life sentences in Israeli jails – some were convicted of multiple murders, including the killing of Israeli civilians. Others were never charged with a crime.

Around 70 of the most serious offenders were deported via Egypt to neighbouring countries, including Qatar and Turkey.

A smaller number will be sent to Gaza. The rest – just over 120 – will be allowed to return to their homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

“After the conclusion of the necessary activities in the prisons and the approval of political authorities, all the terrorists were released from the Ofer and Ktziot prisons,” the Israel Prison Service said in a statement.

Some of the released prisoners were hoisted aloft by crowds to loud cheers and fireworks after they stepped off buses.

There was then a scramble as they tried to find their loved ones and family members, before being carried into a sports complex where the celebrations continued.

“Thank God! It’s a great feeling, I can’t describe this feeling! I’ve been in jail six years and two months,” released prisoner Bakker Kwaawish said after he got off one of the buses dressed in grey prisoner fatigues.

The youngest ************ prisoner released on Saturday was 16 years old. The oldest, Mohammed al-Tous, was 69. He had spent 39 years in jail, having first been arrested in 1985 while fighting Israeli forces.

Another prisoner, Mohammad al-Ardah, was part of a high profile jailbreak in 2021.

A total of 121 of the prisoners released had been serving a life sentence.

Some of the prisoners had been held for short periods of time, and some were never charged with a crime but were held under something called administrative detention.

The swap on Saturday was the second exchange since a ceasefire came into effect on 19 January. Three hostages and 90 ************ prisoners were released in the first swap.

During last week’s prisoner release, there was a noticeable show of support for ******, but on Saturday, ******, the West Bank’s ruling party, which dominates the ************ Authority (PA), turned out in force to display their backing for the prisoners.

Earlier on Saturday,

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Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag, all aged between 19 and 20, were released to the Red Cross in Gaza City during a heavily choreographed handover involving dozens of ****** gunmen.

However, Israel accused ****** of breaching the terms of the ceasefire because female civilian hostage Arbel Yehud was not included in Saturday’s release.

Israel said it would delay the planned return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza, while ****** insisted the hostage would be released next weekend.

The January ceasefire deal halted the war which began when ****** attacked Israel on 7 October 2023. About 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken back to Gaza as hostages.

More than 47,200 Palestinians, the majority civilians, have been killed in Israel’s offensive, Gaza’s ******-run health ministry says.

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