RAMALLAH, WEST BANK: In the early hours of Monday, January 20, Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners as part of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas. This development came shortly after three Israeli hostages, previously held by Hamas in Gaza, were freed and returned to Israel.
The release of detainees was marked by celebrations as large white buses carrying the prisoners departed from Ofer Prison, located near Ramallah in the West Bank. Crowds gathered around the buses, cheering and setting off fireworks to welcome the released individuals.
PACPA
According to the Prisoners Affairs Commission of the Palestinian Authority, (PACPA) all those released were minors as well women. Israeli authorities stated that these individuals had been detained for various security-related offenses, ranging from stone-throwing to more serious allegations, such as attempted murder.
Palestinians Return to Destruction in Gaza
As the ceasefire came into effect, displaced families in Gaza began returning to areas such as Rafah, eastern Gaza Strip, and the Jabalia refugee camp to assess the damage to their homes and businesses. However, what many found was widespread devastation, with no signs of life remaining in their neighborhoods.
Some families had hoped to move back to their homes or rebuild on the remnants of destroyed buildings. However, the extent of the destruction has led many to return to makeshift shelters and evacuation camps, as living conditions in their former neighborhoods remain dire.
Midnight Release and Political Figures Among Detainees
The Israeli military, which oversees the West Bank, issued warnings against public celebrations related to the prisoner release. The midnight timing of the release was seen by Palestinians as an attempt to dampen the celebratory atmosphere and minimize public gatherings.
Among the prominent figures released was Khalida Jarrar, a 62-year-old leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a secular leftist group. Jarrar, who was arrested in December 2023, had been held under administrative detention—a practice criticized by human rights organizations as a breach of international law.
Others released included Dalal Khaseeb, the sister of late senior Hamas official Saleh Arouri, who was killed in January 2024, and Abla Abdelrasoul, the wife of jailed PFLP leader Ahmad Saadat.
Agreement Details
This prisoner release is part of the initial phase of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The arrangement outlines a gradual exchange, with Hamas set to release 33 Israeli hostages over the next six weeks. In return, Israel will free approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners from the West Bank and Gaza.
