Palestinian Prisoners Society announces number of prisoners to be released: 'In the first phase of the agreement...'

Qaddura Fares, President of the Palestinian Prisoners Society, which is affiliated with the Palestinian Authority, stated that 1,737 Palestinians will be released as part of the first phase of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement in Gaza.

Speaking to Qatar's Al-Araby channel, Fares said, "The number of prisoners to be released in the first phase is 1,737, and 296 of them are individuals sentenced to long-term imprisonment."

Fares stated that the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released depends on clarifying the situation of Israeli hostages in Gaza and determining how many are alive or dead, but noted that Hamas has not yet been able to provide detailed information on this matter due to the massive destruction and attacks in Gaza.

Fares pointed out that Israel is insisting on deporting some of the Palestinian prisoners to be released, and that this stance is preventing the release of individuals in leadership positions, particularly in the first phase.

Zahir Jabarin, one of Hamas's leaders in the West Bank, discussed the agreement regarding the prisoner exchange and the arrangements for the release of Palestinian prisoners with Fares yesterday.

According to a written statement from Hamas, Hamas and Palestinian Prisoners Society officials also attended Jabarin's meeting with Fares.

It was stated that the meeting discussed "developments in the agreement and prisoner exchange, as well as arrangements for the honorable release and reception of the prisoners in a manner worthy of the sacrifices of the Palestinian people."

It was expressed that the meeting aimed to coordinate the prisoner exchange process and remove all obstacles to the completion of the prisoner exchange agreement.

According to the Israeli news site "Ynet", the Tel Aviv administration will release 1,977 Palestinian prisoners in the first phase of the agreement, 290 of whom are serving life sentences.

The agreement includes the release of 1,000 Palestinian prisoners arrested after October 8, 2023, and 47 prisoners who were re-arrested despite being released in the 2011 exchange agreement.

According to the text of the agreement, the exchange will be carried out in 7 periods over the first 42-day phase.

According to a report by the Haaretz newspaper, 3 Israeli hostages will be released on the first day of the agreement, and 4 on the seventh day. 3 hostages will be released on each of the 14th, 21st, 28th, and 35th days of the ceasefire, and finally, 14 Israeli hostages will be released in the last week of the first phase.

The Israeli Ministry of Justice is expected to publish the list of names of Palestinian detainees to be included in the first phase of the agreement.

According to the Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, there are 10,400 Palestinians in Israeli prisons, 600 of whom are serving life sentences.

The Israeli government approved the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement in Gaza during the night hours.

CEASEFIRE AND PRISONER EXCHANGE AGREEMENT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS

Qatar, one of the mediating countries, announced on January 15 that an agreement had been reached between Israel and Hamas on a ceasefire and prisoner exchange in Gaza.

The agreement will come into effect as of Sunday, January 19. In the first 42 days of the ceasefire agreement, which will consist of 3 phases, 33 Israeli hostages will be released.

The agreement includes the comprehensive delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip as well as the return of displaced Palestinians to their regions.

The details of the second and third phases will be announced upon the completion of the first phase.

News Source: AA