Jerusalem, MINA – In a significant development under the recent ceasefire agreement, 24 Jerusalemite prisoners were released from Israeli prisons on Monday. The release is part of a broader exchange deal involving over 2,000 Palestinian detainees from Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem in return for Israeli captives held in Gaza.
Many of the released individuals had been serving life sentences, including key leaders from the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas who were imprisoned for decades and considered “dangerous” by Israeli authorities due to their prominent roles in past resistance movements.
This exchange follows a ceasefire brokered last week with the mediation of the United States, Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar. The deal marks one of the largest prisoner swaps in recent years and is part of the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation, which has already seen the release of over 3,985 Palestinians. Among them are 486 serving life terms, 144 women, 297 minors, and 2,724 individuals from Gaza detained after October 7, 2023.
The latest release reduces the number of Palestinians serving life sentences in Israeli prisons from 608 to 121. While families across Gaza and the West Bank celebrated, Israeli authorities enforced strict bans on public celebrations in Jerusalem, warning families against rallies or flag displays. Intelligence units were deployed to personally escort released prisoners to their homes to prevent gatherings.
Also Read: Israel Releases 96 Palestinian Prisoners in Ramallah Under Gaza Ceasefire Agreement
Human rights groups condemned these restrictions, calling them an effort to “criminalize joy” and undermine the symbolic victory of the exchange. Despite the limitations, Palestinians hailed the release as a psychological and moral victory, especially in the context of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The phased exchange deal, aligned with the terms of the Trump-era peace framework, includes the withdrawal of Israeli forces, mutual prisoner releases, and immediate humanitarian aid access to Gaza. Analysts say the prisoner swaps represent a turning point in resistance negotiations and have reignited international attention on the over 5,000 Palestinians still imprisoned by Israel, many without trial.[]
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
Also Read: Thirteen More Israeli Hostages Freed in Gaza, Completing Exchange Under Ceasefire Deal
Mina Indonesia
Mina Arabic
Mina Sport