Israel to Release Over 1,800 Palestinian Prisoners in First Phase of Ceasefire, Says Egypt”

In a significant move, Israel is set to release more than 1,800 Palestinian prisoners as part of the first phase of a ceasefire agreement, according to Egypt.

According to mediator Egypt, in the initial phase of the ceasefire, Israel will free 1,890 Palestinian prisoners in return for 33 Israeli hostages.

However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu states that Israel will “not move forward” with the truce until it obtains the list of hostages scheduled to be released by Hamas.

The first three hostages are anticipated to be freed on Sunday following the commencement of the ceasefire at 08:30 local time (06:30 GMT). Here’s a summary of what we know about the agreement.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an attack on Israel that resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and led to 251 individuals being taken as hostages back to Gaza.

The attack prompted a large-scale Israeli offensive on Gaza, resulting in over 46,800 Palestinian fatalities, as reported by the health ministry governed by Hamas.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel “cannot progress with the framework until we receive the agreed-upon list of hostages who are to be released.”

“The agreement must be upheld without any violations,” he adds. “Hamas bears full responsibility.”

The first three Israeli hostages are scheduled to be released on Sunday. Earlier, the Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported that Israel anticipated receiving the names of these individuals later today.

A more extensive list of the 33 hostages reportedly set to be released has been published by Israeli media, though it remains unconfirmed.

Zakaria Zubeidi is among the most prominent Palestinian prisoners scheduled for release from an Israeli jail during the initial phase of this agreement.

The 49-year-old, raised in a refugee camp, previously led the militant organization known as the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade in Jenin, located in the West Bank.

He has been imprisoned for several offenses, including intentional homicide, attempted murder, and planting explosives.

Zubeida admitted to carrying out a gun attack in Beit She’an in 2002, which resulted in the deaths of six Israelis. He has also been imprisoned by the Palestinian Authority on several occasions.

In 2021, Zubeida gained attention once more when he became one of six Palestinian prisoners who tunneled out and escaped from an Israeli jail, only to be recaptured five days later.

To numerous Palestinians, he is celebrated as a hero of the resistance against Israel’s military occupation. He is also recognized for establishing the Freedom Theatre and Cinema in Jenin.

BBC