In a significant step toward easing tensions in the ongoing Gaza ceasefire, Israel is set to release 602 prisoners on Saturday, as part of a high-stakes prisoner swap deal with Hamas. The exchange is part of the broader ceasefire arrangement, aimed at reducing hostilities following the outbreak of the war on October 7.
According to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, a leading advocacy group, 445 of the prisoners being freed are from Gaza, arrested following Hamas’ attack that ignited the conflict. This release also includes 60 individuals serving long sentences, 50 more serving life terms, and 47 who had been re-arrested after being released in a 2011 prisoner exchange.
Amani Sarahneh, spokeswoman for the group, also revealed that 108 of the freed prisoners will be deported outside of Israel and the Palestinian territories. The deal marks a significant development in the ongoing negotiations and offers a glimpse of potential steps towards longer-term peace.
This move, as part of the ongoing ceasefire, highlights both the complexities and challenges of the negotiations as Israel and Hamas navigate a fragile path toward stability.
