Israeli occupation releases dozens of prisoners in Ramallah within exchange deal

OCCUPIED PALESTINE, Feb. 08 (YPA) – The Israeli occupation authorities released dozens of Palestinian prisoners on Saturday afternoon as part of the fifth batch of the exchange deal with Hamas and the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.

In the city of Ramallah, dozens of released Palestinian prisoners were received from the Israeli “Ofer” prison to be part of 183 prisoners being released today, in addition to 111 prisoners from Gaza.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced the transfer of 42 prisoners from Ofer prison to Ramallah Cultural Palace, where hundreds of Palestinians were welcoming them, headed by the families of the released prisoners.

For its part, the Palestinian Red Crescent confirmed the transfer of two of the released prisoners to Al-Istishari Hospital in Ramallah after receiving them in a deteriorating health condition from ICRC’s buses.

The occupation authorities are expected to release 183 prisoners today, including 18 serving life sentences, 54 serving harsh sentences, and 111 prisoners from the Gaza Strip who were detained after October 7, 2023.

In another context, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, handed over three Israeli prisoners this morning as part of the exchange deal in a scene that carried deep political messages that the day following the end of the aggression is a distinct Palestinian day, according to a statement by Hamas following the handing process.

Before carrying out the release of the prisoners, the occupation authorities raided a number of the homes of the prisoners expected to be released, warning their families against holding any celebrations on the occasion of their release.

YPA