Jerusalem: Israeli occupation authorities released today the second batch of Palestinian prisoners as part of the ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian factions in Gaza.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the second batch includes 200 prisoners, comprising individuals with life sentences and high prison terms. Among them, 121 prisoners were serving life sentences, and 79 were serving long-term sentences.
The release, which took place from Ofer Prison, west of Ramallah, saw 114 prisoners bussed by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to Ramallah, while 16 prisoners were released to Gaza, and 70 others exiled outside Palestine. Among those released is the oldest Palestinian prisoner in Israeli prisons, Mohammad Al-Tous, 67 years old, from the village of Al-Jabaa, south of Bethlehem. Al-Tous had spent 39 years in Israeli prisons.
Another significant release includes Raed Al-Saadi, 57 years old, from the town of Silat Al-Harithiya, west of Jenin. Al-Saadi, imprisoned since 1989, is the longest-serving detainee in the Jenin Governorate. The release also included the Abu Hmeid brothers-Nasser, Mohammad, and Sharif-from Al-Amari refugee camp in Ramallah. The three brothers, sentenced to life imprisonment, were exiled outside Palestine. Their brother, Nasser Abu Hmeid, a prominent leader, died in Israeli detention in late 2022, and his body remains withheld by Israeli authorities.
During the release process, the Israeli occupation forces declared the area near Ofer Prison a closed military zone, dispersing families of detainees and supporters with live ammunition and tear gas. Meanwhile, hundreds of Palestinians gathered at the Ramallah Entertainment Complex to welcome the 114 freed prisoners from Ofer Prison. The event was attended by Layla Ghannam, the Governor of Ramallah and Al-Bireh, along with several Palestinian leadership figures.
The release marks a significant development in the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, with emotions running high among families and supporters celebrating the return of their loved ones.
