Israel to Release 110 Palestinian Prisoners, Including 32 Serving Life Sentences
Israel to Release 110 Palestinian Prisoners, Including Life-Sentenced Inmates and Children, While Hamas Frees Three Israeli Hostages in Ongoing Exchange Deal..
Watan-The Prisoners’ Information Office affiliated with the Hamas movement announced on Wednesday that Israel is set to release 110 Palestinian prisoners on Thursday, including those serving life sentences, prisoners with high sentences, and 30 children, as part of a Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement with Tel Aviv.
Details of the Release
As part of the first phase of the exchange deal, 32 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, 48 prisoners with high sentences, and 30 child prisoners will be freed on Thursday.
The office stated in a statement:
“As part of the first phase of the exchange deal, 32 prisoners sentenced to life, 48 prisoners with high sentences, and 30 child prisoners will be released on Thursday.”
Israeli Prisoners to Be Released by Hamas
In exchange for the Palestinian prisoners, Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, published the names of three Israeli prisoners it plans to release on Thursday.
Hamas military spokesperson Abu Ubaida stated via Telegram:
“As part of the ‘Al-Aqsa Flood’ prisoner exchange deal, Al-Qassam Brigades have decided to release the following Zionist prisoners on Thursday: Arbel Yahud, Agam Berger, and Gadi Moshe Moses.”
Previous Releases
This marks the third batch of prisoners that Israel has released. In previous days, Israel freed 200 prisoners serving life or long sentences, along with 90 children and women.
The 3-Phase Agreement
In the first phase of the three-phase agreement, each phase lasting 42 days, the deal stipulates the gradual release of 33 Israeli captives held in Gaza—both alive and deceased remains—in exchange for between 1,700 and 2,000 Palestinian detainees.
A Hamas source stated earlier:
“We have handed over to mediators the list of hostages expected to be released on Thursday.”
The source, who spoke anonymously, confirmed that Arbel Yahud (29), Agam Berger (19), and Gadi Moses (80) would be freed.
Exchange Conditions
The source further revealed that:
- In exchange for Agam Berger, Israel will release 30 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences for killing Israelis, along with 20 other prisoners sentenced to various terms.
- In exchange for Arbel Yahud, Israel will release 30 Palestinian minors and women from its prisons.
- In exchange for Gadi Moses, Israel will free 30 Palestinian prisoners, including 27 serving various sentences and 3 serving life sentences.
Israeli Response
An Israeli political source told Channel 13 (Hebrew):
“The list presented by Hamas is acceptable to us.” The channel also indicated that Israel may release five additional Thai prisoners on Thursday.
Israeli Government Confirmation
On Wednesday, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that it received the list of detainees Hamas plans to release as part of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
According to the Israeli statement, a total of eight captives—three Israelis and five Thais—will be freed from Gaza on Thursday.
Ceasefire Timeline
The ceasefire agreement, which came into effect on January 19, lasts for 42 days in its first phase, during which further negotiations will be held for two additional phases, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, with support from the United States.
