Israel Frees 90 Palestinian Prisoners in Hostage Release Deal

Amidst joyous celebrations in the West Bank, 90 Palestinian prisoners were released from Israel’s Ofer prison as part of a cease-fire agreement to secure the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

Upon their arrival, some supporters, waving Hamas flags atop the buses carrying the detainees, greeted them enthusiastically, according to the Associated Press. All those freed were women and teenagers imprisoned on charges related to Israeli national security.

“We experience a bittersweet feeling: freedom, for which we thank everyone, and the pain of losing so many Palestinian martyrs,” stated released detainee and political leader Khalida Jarrar to the news agency.

Jarrar, 62, a prominent member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (designated a terrorist organization by the U.S.), has faced repeated imprisonment in Israel. Human Rights Watch has previously criticized her arrests as part of Israel’s broader suppression of non-violent political dissent.

 

Bara’a Al-Fuqha, 22, embraced her family upon exiting the Red Cross bus into a crowd of celebrating Palestinians.

A medical student at Al-Quds University in East Jerusalem before her arrest, she spent approximately six months in prison under administrative detention—a policy of indefinite imprisonment without formal charges or trial.

“Thank God, I’m with my family; I’m content,” she said. “But my joy is limited; many Palestinians are tortured and abused. Our people in Gaza suffer. God willing, we will work to free them, too.”

 

The cease-fire and hostage exchange involves Hamas progressively releasing 33 Israeli hostages from Gaza over the next six weeks, in return for Israel’s release of nearly 2,000 prisoners and detainees from the West Bank and Gaza.

The first three freed hostages—Doron Steinbrecher, 31; Romi Gonen, 24; and Emily Damari, 28—were all young women.

“In the coming days, they will undergo thorough medical examinations to prepare appropriate treatments after enduring horrific experiences at the hands of Hamas terrorists,” explained Yitshak Kreiss, director-general of Israel’s Sheba Medical Center.

’ Louis Casiano and