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The 183 prisoners released by Israel were part of a larger swap deal with Hamas that has temporarily paused the war in the Gaza Strip
A former Palestinian prisoner released by Israel is cheered by a crowd after stepping out of a bus in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah on February 8, 2025. (AFP photo)
More than 100 Palestinian prisoners released from Israeli jails on Saturday returned to the Gaza Strip, where they were greeted by cheering crowds.
The 183 prisoners released by Israel were part of a larger swap deal with Hamas that has temporarily paused the war in the Gaza Strip, which also saw the return of three Israeli hostages freed by militants on Saturday.
The three hostages—Or Levy, Ohad Ben Ami, and Eli Sharabi—were taken during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that ignited the conflict. They were brought into Israeli territory for medical treatment and to be reunited with their families after 16 months in captivity.
The fifth exchange since the truce began last month comes as negotiations are set to start for the next phase of the ceasefire, which aims to pave the way for a permanent end to the war. Saturday’s swap also follows comments by President Donald Trump, suggesting the United States should take control of the Gaza Strip and remove its inhabitants, which sparked global outrage.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club reported that seven of the released prisoners required hospitalisation, citing “brutality” and mistreatment during their time in Israeli jails.
The deal, which has led to the release of over 250 hostages and prisoners, is part of a ceasefire brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.
Talks for the next phase of the ceasefire are set to begin, but there have been no updates regarding progress.
The ongoing conflict, sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attack, has led to over 48,000 casualties, mostly civilians in Gaza, with over 1,200 Israelis killed.
