Israel Releases 200 Palestinian Prisoners in Latest Agreement

Israel has freed 200 Palestinian prisoners as part of a recent agreement, signaling ongoing efforts to address long-standing tensions in the region.

Around 200 Palestinians have been released from Israeli prisons under the Gaza ceasefire agreement. In return, Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, has freed four female Israeli soldiers.

Israel’s prison service announced the release of 200 captives on Saturday, stating that 121 had been serving life sentences for killing Israelis. The rest had been detained without charge.

The prisoners were released from Israel’s Ofer and Ktziot prisons, where they underwent examinations by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Of these individuals, 128 returned to their homes in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. The rest were deported, with Egypt receiving 70 according to Cairo’s state media.

Video footage circulating on social media captured the moment when crowds erupted in cheers as buses carrying prisoners arrived in Ramallah, a city in the West Bank. Armed men paraded ahead of these vehicles while spectators waved flags representing Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other militant organizations. Once off the buses, the prisoners were lifted up and borne through throngs of jubilant supporters.

Earlier on Saturday, Hamas showcased four female Israeli soldiers on a stage in Gaza City. Following this presentation, officials from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) arrived and conducted an exchange of documents with representatives from the militant group. Subsequently, the women were escorted to Red Cross vehicles and driven away.

Israeli officials stated that the soldiers would first be taken to an army medical facility for an initial checkup, and afterward, they would be transferred to a hospital where they could reunite with their families.

Earlier this month, Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire, concluding their 15-month conflict that severely impacted Gaza. The agreement was facilitated by Qatar, Egypt, and the US and is structured in three stages. During the initial phase, Hamas will release 33 hostages—comprising children, female soldiers, as well as those who are injured or ill—in exchange for an unspecified number of Palestinians.

Last week, the first three hostages were released in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners.