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Palestinian detainees, Israeli captives freed as part of Gaza truce
Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and all 20 living captives held by the resistance movement Hamas walked free Monday as part of a cease-fire pausing two years of Israel’s onslaught that decimated the Gaza Strip and killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.
Hamas said Monday it will hand over the bodies of four of 28 deceased captives. Israel said it freed more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners as part of the Gaza cease-fire deal.
Speaking to the regime’s parliament, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared he was “committed to this peace,” raising hopes that the ruinous war, which triggered other conflicts in the Middle East, might come to an end. But fundamental questions remain over whether Hamas will accept disarmament and who will govern Gaza.
Cheering crowds greeted buses of released prisoners in the West Bank and Gaza, while families and friends of the captives gathered in a square in Tel Aviv, Israel and cried out with joy and relief as news arrived that the captives were free.
While major questions remain about the future of Hamas and Gaza, the exchange of captives and prisoners raised hopes for ending the deadliest war between Israel and Hamas. The cease-fire deal calls for a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza which is experiencing famine.
The Israel’s onslaught on Gaza began on October 7, 2023, after Hamas launched an operation on the regime’s positions in the occupied territories, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 captives.
In Israel’s offensive, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The toll is expected to grow as bodies are pulled from rubble previously made inaccessible by fighting.
The war has destroyed large swaths of Gaza and displaced about 90% of its some 2 million residents. It has also triggered other conflicts in the region, sparked worldwide protests and led to allegations of genocide that Israel denies.
Tens of thousands of Israelis watched the captive transfers at public screenings across the occupied territories.
Palestinians in the occupied West Bank rejoiced as buses carrying dozens of released prisoners from Ofer Prison arrived in Beitunia, near Ramallah.
Later, giant crowds were gathered to greet buses carrying other prisoners arriving at Nasser Hospital in Gaza’s southern city of Khan Younis.
The prisoners include 250 people serving life sentences for convictions in attacks on Israelis, in addition to 1,700 seized from Gaza during the war and held without charge. They will be returned to the West Bank or Gaza or sent into exile.
More than 150 prisoners were sent to Egypt by Israel and arrived at Gaza’s Rafah crossing with Egypt early Monday afternoon, according to an Egyptian official, who had direct knowledge of the deal’s implementation. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media.