Israel has agreed to release 110 Palestinian prisoners today marking the third phase of a ceasefire and captive exchange deal with Hamas.
This release, confirmed by the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society, includes notable figures such as theatre director and resistance fighter Zakaria Zubeidi, and 30 children.
The released individuals are expected to arrive in the Radana area of Ramallah, located in the occupied West Bank, around 12 pm local time. The exchange comes as part of a larger effort to ease tensions between Israel and Hamas.
Along with the 110 Palestinians, eight captives, including three Israelis and five Thai nationals, will also be released by Hamas and other Palestinian factions.
The prisoners’ list, published by the advocacy group, comprises at least 30 children, a stark reminder of the ongoing impact of the Israel-Palestine conflict on younger generations. However, 20 prisoners will be exiled outside Palestine, with their destinations unknown.
Among the released prisoners is Zakaria Zubeidi, a prominent figure in the Palestinian resistance movement. Zubeidi, 49, was once the leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a militant faction linked to the Fatah party. His jailbreak in 2021, alongside five other prisoners, made international headlines and elevated his status among Palestinians as a folk hero.
Zubeidi had previously been incarcerated multiple times by Israeli forces, and in 2021, his dramatic escape from a high-security Israeli prison added to his legend. His efforts to challenge Israeli occupation extended beyond armed resistance, as he also founded The Freedom Theatre in the Jenin refugee camp in 2006 to promote cultural resistance through the arts.
The release of these prisoners adds to the tally of 400 Palestinians freed since the beginning of the ceasefire, which has largely held steady despite the ongoing conflict. However, the situation remains volatile, as Israeli forces have continued arresting Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Recent raids in the Jenin refugee camp, a known center of Palestinian resistance, have resulted in the deaths of at least 16 Palestinians, with dozens more injured. Israeli military operations in the area are ongoing, and tensions show no sign of abating.
As of the latest reports, more than 10,000 Palestinians remain incarcerated in Israeli prisons, including over 3,300 held without charge in administrative detention.
These figures do not account for those detained during Israel’s recent military campaigns in Gaza. Human rights groups have raised concerns about the conditions of these detainees, particularly those held in makeshift detention camps in the Naqab desert, where reports of torture have surfaced.
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