Ramallah, MINA – The Israeli occupation authority released 96 Palestinian prisoners from Ofer Prison in western Ramallah on Monday, marking the first phase of a ceasefire agreement concerning the Gaza Strip. The deal involves a simultaneous exchange of prisoners and detainees, supervised by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Buses carrying the released prisoners departed the prison under tight security measures. Some of the freed individuals will be transferred to the Gaza Strip, while others are expected to be deported outside the occupied Palestinian territories in accordance with the agreement.
Additional buses carrying dozens of released Palestinian prisoners also arrived in the West Bank as Israel began the process of releasing over 1,900 prisoners. This is in exchange for 20 Israeli captives who were handed over to the Red Cross earlier in the day.
Among those freed from Ofer Prison were five detainees from Occupied Jerusalem. They were transported in handcuffs by Israeli intelligence vehicles to the city.
Also Read: 24 Jerusalemite Prisoners Freed in Major Exchange Deal Between Hamas and Israel
On Monday morning, Israeli forces fired live bullets and tear gas at Palestinian citizens gathered near Ofer Prison to welcome the released prisoners. Eyewitnesses reported that Israeli soldiers stationed behind the separation wall fired on the crowd, which had assembled since dawn in anticipation of the release.
Under the terms of the agreement, Israel will release a total of 250 Palestinian prisoners serving long and life sentences, in addition to more than 1,718 individuals captured from Gaza during the war.[]
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
Also Read: Thirteen More Israeli Hostages Freed in Gaza, Completing Exchange Under Ceasefire Deal
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