As part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, Israel has released 200 Palestinian prisoners. The Israeli Prison Service confirmed the release on Saturday, stating, “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.”
This release follows the earlier release of four Israeli hostages by Hamas. The exchange is a significant step in reducing tensions and ensuring the temporary halt of the ongoing violence that has plagued the region for months.
The prisoners include 120 individuals convicted for deadly attacks on Israelis and sentenced to life in prison, with approximately 70 released into Egypt.
These are the terror convicts who were released from Israeli prisons in exchange for abducted teenage girls. Palestinians are celebrating their return.pic.twitter.com/kbHGnswrMC
— Marina Medvin 🇺🇸 (@MarinaMedvin) January 25, 2025
2nd batch of 200 Palestinian prisoners released under Gaza ceasefire deal
Red Cross convoy transporting the prisoners left Israel’s Ofer Prison and is en route to the Beitunya area in the West Bank#WeAreHereForPalestine#SahabatPalestina_ID#Ceasefire#FreePalestine#FreeGaza pic.twitter.com/Dxp6gJ9vmD
— Owner Of Al-Quds (@_Alone_Warrior_) January 25, 2025
This exchange marks the second since the ceasefire, which began on January 19, 2025. The truce has halted fighting in Gaza for at least six weeks, allowing for the release of dozens of Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Under the agreement, Hamas has also pledged to release 33 hostages, including women, children, older men, and the sick, in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Israeli troops have also agreed to pull back from certain positions in Gaza.
Ongoing Concerns Over Hostages and Future Ceasefire Phases
Despite these releases, concerns remain regarding the next phases of the ceasefire. In the coming phase, both sides will exchange the remaining hostages, including men of military age, and Israeli forces will withdraw further from Gaza. As of now, 90 hostages remain in Gaza, with Israeli authorities declaring around a third of them dead.
The exchange comes after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, in which militants killed 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages. Since then, the conflict has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians in Gaza.
The 200 prisoners were freed from Ofer and Ktziot prisons as part of the negotiated ceasefire. The agreement allows for prisoner exchanges, signaling progress toward achieving long-term peace in the region.
The international community has watched these developments closely, with both sides showing a willingness to negotiate.
