- Israel frees 183 Palestinian prisoners following the release of three Israeli hostages by Hamas.
- Over 100 detainees from Gaza were held without trial after October 7; 18 prisoners had been serving life sentences.
- High-profile releases include Mohammed el-Halabi, a Gaza aid worker accused of funding Hamas, and others linked to past attacks.
Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners on Saturday, following the release of three Israeli hostages by Hamas in Gaza.
According to Palestinian officials, 18 of the freed prisoners were serving life sentences, while over 100 were from Gaza and had been arrested after October 7, 2023, without trial.
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As part of the exchange, 30 prisoners—including three serving life terms—were freed for each of the hostages Keith Siegel and Ofer Kalderon, while 12 prisoners serving life sentences were released in exchange for Yarden Bibas.
Beyond these specific swaps, Israel has agreed to release over 1,000 Gazan detainees throughout the course of the ceasefire agreement.
On Saturday, Israel freed 111 detainees who had been held in Gaza but were not directly involved in the October 7 attacks.
Of the total 183 released, 150 were sent to or deported to Gaza, 32 were released to the West Bank, and one was sent to Egypt.
The prisoners heading to the West Bank were freed from Ofer Prison near Ramallah, while others were released from Ktzi’ot Prison in southern Israel and transferred through the Kerem Shalom Crossing into Gaza.
“The Prison Service is acting in accordance with the diplomatic deal for the return of the hostages, in full coordination with all security services,” the Israel Prison Service (IPS) said.
Among those released was Egyptian national Fareeq Barikat, jailed for his role in a 2007 suicide bombing at an Eilat bakery, and Salim Awad, a Fatah member involved in a 2002 attack in the West Bank settlement of Homesh that killed three Israelis.
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Another high-profile prisoner freed was Gaza aid worker Mohammed el-Halabi, who had been sentenced to 12 years in prison for allegedly funding Hamas while working for the Christian aid group World Vision. His conviction had drawn criticism from rights organizations, with both el-Halabi and World Vision denying the charges.
With these latest releases, the total number of Palestinian prisoners freed under the ceasefire and hostage deal has reached 583.
