Palestinian Prisoners Released in the West Bank: Celebratory Mood Outside Ofer Prison

Outside Ofer Prison in the West Bank, a celebratory atmosphere prevailed as the first group of Palestinian prisoners was released as part of the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas. One of the released prisoners was Abed Khatib's 17-year-old son, Iyas. Abed Khatib expressed his confusion and frustration as Israeli security forces took his son away without providing any explanation. Despite being a high school student preparing for university, Iyas was held under administrative detention, and his father is still unaware of the accusations against him. The Israeli government approved a list of 300 Palestinian prisoners eligible for release in the lead-up to the temporary truce in the war in Gaza. An analysis of the list revealed that around 20% of the prisoners were convicted of crimes, including attempted murder and supporting terrorism. The remaining 80% were either charged with crimes that had not yet been prosecuted or were detained under administrative detention, with no formal charges or evidence presented against them. This has raised concerns and sparked celebrations as families welcomed their loved ones back amidst the volatile situation in the region.