250 Palestinian prisoners released, including 83 serving life sentences, as part of phase I of “Al-Aqsa Flood Deal”
GAZA, Oct. 13 (YPA) – The Israeli occupation authorities on Monday released 250 Palestinian prisoners, 83 of whom were serving life sentences, as part of the first phase of the implementation of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement, known as the “Al-Aqsa Flood Deal,” which is being supervised by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
According to the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society, 83 prisoners were released from “Ofer” Prison west of Ramallah, and 167 prisoners from the Negev Prison (Ketziot). The buses carrying the released prisoners departed the prison yards amidst tight security measures.
The list of released prisoners included 24 detainees from the Al-Quds governorate, the oldest of whom was Samir Abu Ni’ma, who has been detained since 1986.
According to the agreement’s arrangements, a number of the released prisoners will be transferred to the Gaza Strip and Egypt, while 15 Jerusalemite prisoners will be forcibly deported outside Palestine, with Egypt being their first compulsory destination. Nine other prisoners will be released to their homes in the Al-Quds governorate.
This release comes hours after the ICRC announced receiving 20 Israeli prisoners from the Gaza Strip in two batches as part of the agreed-upon humanitarian operation. The first phase of the ceasefire agreement entered into force last Friday afternoon.
On another note, the vicinity of “Ofer” Prison witnessed tension, as the occupation army fired live ammunition and tear gas canisters towards Palestinian citizens who had gathered in large numbers to celebrate the prisoners’ release. Eyewitnesses confirmed that the occupation forces, accompanied by a military bulldozer, stormed the town of Beitunia, west of Ramallah, in an attempt to prevent media coverage of the release operation, which resulted in several residents suffering from tear gas inhalation, who were treated on site.
It is worth noting that the “Al-Aqsa Flood Deal” involves the release of a total of 1,718 prisoners who were detained from Gaza during the genocidal war on the Strip, in addition to three Jordanian prisoners. This brings the total number of released prisoners to 1,966, with 199 prisoners from Al-Quds (Jerusalem) having been freed in the last three exchange deals.
The agreement is based on a plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, which calls for a ceasefire, a gradual withdrawal of the Israeli occupation army, a mutual release of prisoners, the immediate entry of aid into the Gaza Strip, and the disarmament of Hamas.
With American support, the Israeli occupation has been committing genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, leaving 67,806 martyrs, 17,066 wounded, and a famine that has claimed the lives of 463 Palestinians, including 157 children.
YPA