Israel launched 183 Palestinian prisoners on Saturday, together with at the very least two veteran Hamas operatives from the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution, in trade for 3 Israeli hostages who had been held in Gaza.
Of these prisoners freed on Saturday, 138 have been from Gaza, together with 111 arrested after the Hamas -led assault on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 that ignited the 15-month struggle in Gaza.
Underneath the cease-fire deal, Israel dedicated to launch greater than 1,000 Gazans — together with many detained through the Israeli floor invasion of the territory —- on the situation that that they had not participated within the Oct. 7 assault.
However among the most outstanding prisoners launched on Saturday have been from the West Financial institution, together with some who had been serving life sentences. Palestinians usually view the prisoners as freedom fighters in opposition to Israeli occupation.
Large crowds of individuals greeted the arrival of a Crimson Cross bus carrying freed prisoners within the West Financial institution metropolis of Ramallah. Israeli forces raided the household houses of at the very least 4 of the boys launched to the West Financial institution hours earlier than they received there, warning their family to not have a good time their freedom.
One of many prisoners whose household dwelling was raided was Jamal Tawil, a senior Hamas operative within the West Financial institution, who had been imprisoned a number of occasions over current a long time on prices of planning bombings and different assaults in opposition to Israel.
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He was taken on to a hospital in Ramallah after his launch.
“He’s struggling to breathe and may be very weak,” mentioned his daughter, Bushra Tawil, a journalist and activist who was launched in an earlier trade final month. “I used to be shocked once I noticed him — he had been overwhelmed on the top and different components of his physique till the final moments earlier than his launch.”
She mentioned her household had been threatened with arrest in the event that they publicly celebrated his return.
The Israeli army didn’t have a right away touch upon the declare. However for years, Israeli safety companies have discouraged or damaged up household occasions celebrating the discharge of militants, saying they immediate unrest and glorify terrorism.
Israel has been notably assertive in suppressing celebrations for detainees launched underneath the present cease-fire deal, fearing that they could assist bolster the recognition of Hamas.
One other launched Hamas militant, Iyad Abu Shkhaydem, had been serving 18 life sentences, partially for planning the bombings of two buses within the central Israel metropolis of Beersheba that killed 16 individuals in 2004, for which he was sentenced by a army court docket.
Israeli forces had nicknamed him “the engineer” of a Hamas cell within the West Financial institution metropolis of Hebron, in response to native media reviews. He was arrested after a 40-day manhunt.
Mr. Abu Shekhaydam, 50, who’s married with 4 youngsters, accomplished his highschool schooling and earned a level in psychology whereas in jail, in response to the Prisoners Affiliation, a rights group that gives authorized help for Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails.
The house of Shadi Barghouti, one other prisoner launched on Saturday, was additionally raided, in response to relations. Mr. Barghouti was serving a 27-year sentence for planning or taking part in assaults, in response to the Israeli Justice Ministry.
He had overlapped in jail along with his father, Fakhri Barghouti, now 70, who was convicted within the 1978 killing of a bus driver, however launched in 2011.
Fakhri Barghouti was ready on the Ramallah Cultural Palace when Shadi Barghouti arrived on a bus from close by Ofer Jail. It was the primary time the daddy and son had met exterior of jail since 1978, when Shadi Barghouti was 11 months outdated. They have been each tearful, however smiling, as Shadi Barghouti knelt upon seeing his father.
Different prisoners arriving on the cultural heart, showing frail and skinny, wore solely grey jumpsuits bearing the emblem of the Prisons Authority. Some wore worn-out plastic slippers whereas others have been barefoot.
Seven of the launched prisoners who arrived in Ramallah have been taken to the native hospitals, in response to the Palestinian Crimson Crescent.
Islam Hamad, from Nablus, needed to be carried by relations. His mom burst into tears when she noticed his situation, together with an injured hand. She was too overwhelmed to talk to a reporter.