Newsletter Newsletters Events Events Podcasts Videos Africanews
Loader
Advertisement

Israel frees 90 Palestinian women and minors from prison on day two of Gaza ceasefire

A Palestinian prisoner is greeted as he disembarks from a bus after being released from an Israeli prison in Beitunia, 20 January, 2025
A Palestinian prisoner is greeted as he disembarks from a bus after being released from an Israeli prison in Beitunia, 20 January, 2025 Copyright  AP Photo
Copyright AP Photo
By Gavin Blackburn with AP
Published on Updated
Share this article Comments
Share this article Close Button
Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Copy to clipboard Copied

According to a list provided by the Palestinian Authority's Commission for Prisoners' Affairs all of those released are women or minors.

ADVERTISEMENT

Israel has freed 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, more than seven hours after three Israeli hostages were released by Hamas and returned to Israel.

A large bus carrying dozens of Palestinian detainees exited the gates of Israel’s Ofer prison in the early hours of Monday morning, just outside the West Bank city of Ramallah.

According to a list provided by the Palestinian Authority's Commission for Prisoners' Affairs, all of those released are women or minors.

A female Palestinian prisoner is greeted after being released from an Israeli prison in Beitunia, 20 January, 2025
A female Palestinian prisoner is greeted after being released from an Israeli prison in Beitunia, 20 January, 2025 Leo Correa/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved

Israel detained them for what it said were offences related to national security, from throwing stones to more serious accusations like attempted murder.

The release comes on the second day of a three-phase ceasefire, which started on Sunday morning.

The truce was supposed to start at 7:30 am CET but was delayed to 10:15 am CET after Israel refused to implement it as it hadn’t received the names of the hostages Hamas intended to release.

Phase one of the ceasefire will see Hamas release 33 captives over six weeks in return for hundreds of Palestinians being held in Israeli prisons.

Hamas released three Israeli women on Sunday - Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher - who were handed to Red Cross staff in Gaza City before being transferred to the Israeli military.

Israelis react while photographs of the kidnapped women awaiting release, Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari, appear on the screen in Tel Aviv, 19 January, 2025
Israelis react while photographs of the kidnapped women awaiting release, Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari, appear on the screen in Tel Aviv, 19 January, 2025 Oded Balilty/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved

All three are currently receiving treatment in a hospital in Tel Aviv and are said to be in stable condition. 

Israel is expected to release 30-50 Palestinians in exchange for every Hamas hostage.

Phase two of the deal covers steps towards a permanent end to the fighting in Gaza. It would see Hamas release the remaining hostages, with Israel agreeing to free around 1,000 Palestinians.

The Israeli military will also complete a full troop withdrawal from Gaza during this phase.

The third and final phase covers Gaza’s reconstruction, with Hamas expected to hand over the bodies of hostages who died in captivity in return for a plan for rebuilding the Strip from Israel.

Hamas triggered the war in October 2023 with its cross-border attack into Israel that saw some 1,200 people killed and 250 others taken as hostages back to Gaza.

A bus carrying Palestinian prisoners arrives in Beitunia, 20 January, 2025
A bus carrying Palestinian prisoners arrives in Beitunia, 20 January, 2025 Leo Correa/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved

Israel responded with a devastating offensive that has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and militants but say women and children make up more than half the dead.

The conflict has destabilised the Middle East and sparked global protests as well as highlighting political tensions inside Israel.

Go to accessibility shortcuts
Share this article Comments

Read more

Hamas releases four Israeli hostages in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners

Israel's army chief resigns over 'terrible failure' to prevent Hamas' 7 October attack

Palestinians in Gaza wake up relieved after first night of ceasefire