A former Palestinian prisoner is cheered upon his arrival in Ramallah on buses of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on February 1, 2025. (Photo by Ahmad Gharabli / AFP)
Ramallah: Israeli occupation authorities released 183 Palestinian prisoners today as part of the fourth tranche in the first phase of a prisoner exchange deal with The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).
According to Qatar News Agency (QNA) correspondent, buses carrying the freed detainees left Ofer Prison, southwest of Ramallah in occupied West Bank, heading toward Beitunia town, which was raided by Israeli forces prior to the prisoners' release. Crowds of families and supporters gathered to welcome the prisoners.
Meanwhile, Gazan prisoners were transported to Kerem Abu Salem crossing, where they were received by Red Cross before being transferred into the Strip.
The release comes after Hamas handed over three Israeli hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza earlier today. The released hostages - Ofer Calderon, Yarden Bibas, and Keith Shmounsel Siegel (who also holds US citizenship) - were then handed to Israeli authorities.
According to The Commission of Detainees' Affairs and the Palestinian Society Prisoner's Club, the freed prisoners include 18 serving life sentences, 54 serving long sentences, and 111 Gazans who were apprehended post October 7, 2023.
The ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, which came into effect on January 19, halted Israel's deadly offensive on Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023.
