Israel Approves Release of 737 Prisoners as Part of Gaza Ceasefire and Hostage Swap Deal
Israel’s Ministry of Justice has confirmed that 737 prisoners and detainees will be released as part of the first phase of a ceasefire and hostage release agreement.
This development follows a decision by the Israeli government on Saturday to approve the deal, signaling the start of a fragile truce between Israel and Gaza.
According to a statement on the Ministry of Justice’s website, the prisoners, including men, women, and children, will be freed under the terms of the agreement. However, their release is scheduled to take place on Sunday at 4:00 pm local time (1400 GMT). This marks a significant moment in the ongoing tensions as Israel has faced mounting pressure to resolve the situation through diplomatic means.
Previously, Israel had released a list of 95 Palestinian prisoners, mostly women, who would be freed in exchange for Israeli captives held in Gaza. The newly expanded list includes key figures such as Zakaria Zubeidi, a senior leader of the armed wing of the Fatah party, and Khalida Jarar, a well-known Palestinian lawmaker. Zubeidi, who became a symbol of defiance after escaping from Israel’s Gilboa prison in 2021, is widely viewed as a hero among Palestinians. Jarar, a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, has been detained by Israel on multiple occasions and was arrested again in late December 2024.
The agreement also includes the release of the first group of hostages, with sources close to Hamas confirming that three Israeli women soldiers will be among those freed. However, Hamas refers to any Israeli of military age who has completed mandatory service as a “soldier,” so it is possible that civilians abducted during the attack that ignited the war will also be included in the first phase of releases. The first three individuals on the list are women under the age of 30 who were not in military service during the Hamas attack.
The Ministry of Justice has also noted that the exact number of prisoners to be released in the first phase will depend on how many hostages are freed by Hamas. This arrangement underscores the complex and evolving nature of the agreement, as both sides navigate the delicate balance between prisoner exchanges and the ongoing conflict.
The release of 737 prisoners represents a significant development in the long-standing and volatile conflict, as it offers a glimmer of hope for a potential de-escalation, even as the situation remains precarious.
