Israel Releases 90 Palestinian Prisoners Under Gaza Ceasefire Deal

RAMALLAH (Palestine) Jan 20 (Bernama-AA) -- Israel released 90 Palestinian detainees early Monday from Ofer Military Prison in the occupied West Bank as part of a prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported. 

Palestinians gathered in the town of Beitunia, near Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank to welcome them.

Israeli soldiers intervened by firing tear gas and sound bombs intermittently at the crowd, who were using fire to stay warm due to the cold.

As the time neared 1 am local time, a large number of Israeli military jeeps and bulldozers raided Beitunia.

After firing tear gas and sound bombs, Israeli military jeeps began to drive the Palestinians away from the area.

Shortly after the raid on Beitunia, a bus carrying Palestinian detainees under the protection of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) departed from Ofer Military Prison.

It proceeded from Beitunia towards Manara Square in Ramallah, where the Palestinian detainees would be handed over.

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office issued a statement indicating that during the inspection of the released prisoners' names, it was discovered that one female detainee was missing.

As a result, technical teams communicated with mediators and the Red Cross to put pressure on Israeli forces to adhere to the agreed-upon prisoner list.

Shortly after, the detainees were able to proceed on their journey.

Israel’s Channel 12 later reported that the issue was resolved and that the detainees had departed.

The 90 Palestinian detainees released included 69 women, eight male minors and 12 men sentenced for relatively minor offences.

Israeli media reported that 78 of the Palestinians released from Ofer Military Prison were from the occupied West Bank, while 12 were from occupied East Jerusalem.

Palestinians gathered in Beitunia, and from a hill overlooking Ofer Military Prison, they waited for the convoy carrying the released Palestinian detainees to begin moving.

Activity in front of the prison only increased the excitement of the waiting crowd.

In addition, the Israeli army used drones to launch tear gas canisters at Palestinians who were waiting near the prison for the detainees to be released.

Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee had warned Palestinians not to participate in any marches or celebrations during or after the prisoner release process, threatening intervention if they did.

According to the agreement between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, 90 Palestinian detainees were released in exchange for three Israeli women detainees who had been freed the previous day.

The military wing of Hamas, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, delivered the three Israeli women detainees to a Red Cross team in the evening, marking the first phase of the ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement.

-- BERNAMA-AA