Palestinian Prisoners Released in First Phase of Gaza Ceasefire Agreement

Israeli Authorities Release Palestinian Prisoners as Part of Ceasefire Agreement

On Thursday, Israeli authorities began releasing over 600 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. This release is part of the Gaza ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel.

Palestinian sources reported that buses carrying the prisoners departed from Ofer Prison in the central West Bank, heading toward a reception center in the Beitunia area. The Hamas-linked Prisoners' Information Office confirmed the release of the seventh and eighth batches of prisoners, totaling 642 individuals.

This release marks the first phase of the deal brokered by Egypt and Qatar, with support from the United States. Hamas described this release as the largest so far under the ceasefire arrangement.

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem emphasized the importance of prisoner releases in any exchange deal. He also noted that the group had responded to mediators' requests regarding new mechanisms for exchanging bodies, ensuring Israel's commitment to the process.

The release follows a dispute over the delayed release of Palestinian prisoners, originally scheduled for last Saturday. The resolution came after talks between a Hamas delegation and Egyptian officials in Cairo.

The delay occurred after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded assurances from mediators that there would be no repeat of "provocative military parades" organized by Hamas during previous handover operations, which he considered "insulting to the rights of Israeli hostages.