Israel posted 200 Palestinian prisoners on Saturday in exchange for Four soldiers who held Hamas hostage. Tens of prisoners served life sentences in Israeli prisons for attacking the Israelis.
The Israeli prison service announced in a statement that prisoners were released from the prison of Ofer near the city of Ramallah on the occupied west coast and from another facility near Beershebe in the south of Israel.
The Israelites view them as terrorists, while many Palestinians say they have performed a legitimate resistance to Israeli rule or view them as the victims of the Israeli decade of a long occupation.
Hundreds of Palestinians gathered at the Ramallah Municipal Building to welcome the House of the Praconika, pushing themselves to catch their loved ones as they left the Red Cross bus, which transported them.
Some liberated prisoners, who were still carrying gray uniforms apparently published by the Israeli Prison Administration, were held on the shoulders of the singing audience.
“We leave our prison, but the price is high for our freedom,” said Mohammad Arda, one of the liberated prisoners, journalists, while family and friends were beating around him. “I’m thinking about the families of prisoners we lost in the last year and a half.”
On Sunday, Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners, mostly women and minors, in exchange for three female hostages. This time the Israeli authorities liberate many people who have been convicted of much serious offenses, including the killing of Israeli civilians in militant attacks.
According to the Israeli government, Mr. Arda – activist in Palestinian Islamic jihad – was sentenced to life for attempting to kill and plant an explosive device, among other offenses. He was one of six prisoners who briefly fled the 2021 Israeli prison, the stunning Israelis and Palestine, before caught.
More than 1,500 Palestinians in the prison of Israel should be published as part of the first phase of agreement on hostage interruption and discharge. Hamas pledged to release 33 hostages; 97 was held in Gaza when the contract came into force last Sunday, according to the Israeli authorities.
About 120 Palestinian prisoners released on Saturday supported a life sentence for involvement in attacks on the Israelis, according to lists provided by the prisoner’s office associated with Hamas. According to the terms of the agreement, about 70 will be expelled from the Israeli territory to areas under the control of Hamas, Gaza belt or abroad in countries like Egypt.
Those released on Saturday were Mohammad Odh, Wael Qassim and Wissam Abbasi, who were arrested in 2002 for a series of deadly bombing attacks that were directed at Israelis in crowded civilian areas. All three served life sentences for their involvement in attacks.
One of the most notorious attacks of the group – which took place at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem – killed nine people, including five Americans.
Three men should be exiled abroad and will never be allowed to return to their homes in Jerusalem, under the terms of the agreement.
