The government finalized on Friday the list of Palestinian prisoners to be released as part of the Gaza hostage and ceasefire agreement. On Monday, the remaining 20 live hostages were released to Israeli authorities and back to their families. The bodies of 22 slain hostages are still waiting to be returned.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel had agreed to release approximately 250 Palestinian prisoners who are currently serving life sentences for involvement in attacks against Israelis spanning four decades.
Additionally, around 1,700 individuals detained during the Israel-Hamas War were also due to be released. About 40 are set to remain behind bars.
The agreement, brokered by the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, aimed to facilitate the return of hostages and promote humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The released prisoners are affiliated with various Palestinian militant factions, including Hamas, Fatah, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
Many of these individuals were convicted in the 2000s for their involvement in shootings, bombings, or other attacks that resulted in Israeli casualties. Following their release, more than half are expected to be sent to Gaza or into exile outside the Palestinian territories.
Several prisoners were notably absent
Several high-profile prisoners were notably absent from the release list, including Marwan Barghouti, a senior Fatah leader sentenced to multiple life terms for orchestrating attacks during the Second Intifada. According to reports, Israel used one of its vetoes to exclude his name from the list.
The Israel Prison Service had organized the releases from the Ofer and Ketziot prisons. The released detainees will be sent back to Gaza, the West Bank, or into exile, depending on their backgrounds. The government has since issued stern warnings against public celebrations, distributing fliers threatening arrest to curtail such activities.
Late Thursday night, the Justice Ministry released a detailed list of the prisoners set to be released, with some revisions leading to the final Friday version.
On Sunday, authorities confirmed that Ahmed Mahmed Jameel Shahada, a Palestinian prisoner from Gaza convicted in 1989 for the rape and murder of a 13-year-old boy, was scheduled for release. Shahada had been serving a life sentence and was originally due for release in 2036.
Under the approved agreement, Israel will release around 250 prisoners serving life sentences for involvement in the murder of Israelis over the past four decades. Roughly 40 convicted terrorists will remain behind bars.