Israel has released 90 Palestinian prisoners under a deal with Hamas, which handed over three Israeli hostages to Israel, The Times of Israel reports, citing the Israeli Prison Service.
According to Palestinian reports, some of the released prisoners were taken to Ramallah and their homes in East Jerusalem.
Prior to the return of the Israeli hostages, the Prison Service transferred the first group of Palestinian prisoners to Ofer Prison in the West Bank, where Israeli security forces and Red Cross representatives verified each prisoner’s identity and conducted medical examinations before releasing them in coordination with security forces and the government.
The released group included 78 West Bank residents, who were freed at the Beitunia checkpoint near Ofer Prison, and 12 East Jerusalem residents, who were transported back to the city and released to their homes from the Russian Compound prison.
Among the released were 69 women, including one minor, eight minor boys, and 12 men convicted of relatively minor offenses, such as incitement, affiliation with terrorism, and public disorder.
In total, nearly 2,000 prisoners are expected to be released during the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.
Background:
Hamas handed over three Israeli hostages to the Red Cross in Gaza, marking the first release of hostages since the ceasefire came into effect.
On January 16, a formal agreement was signed in Doha, Qatar, between Israel and Hamas, addressing the release of hostages held in Gaza and initiating a ceasefire.
On January 17, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israeli and Hamas negotiation teams had signed the agreement.
On January 19, Israel announced the enforcement of the ceasefire in Gaza after Hamas provided a list of three hostages who were to be released on Sunday.
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