Israel Frees 200 Palestinian Prisoners, Including 121 Serving Life Sentences, for Four Soldiers Held 15 Months

Jan 25, 2025, 09:00 PM

Israel released 200 Palestinian prisoners on Saturday as part of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, in exchange for the release of four Israeli female soldiers held captive in Gaza for over 15 months. The soldiers, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag, were handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza City and subsequently reunited with their families in Israel. The Palestinian prisoners, including 121 serving life sentences and wearing grey tracksuits, were freed from Ofer and Ktziot detention facilities. Seventy of them were deported to Egypt and then to third countries. Celebrations erupted in Ramallah and Gaza as the Palestinian prisoners arrived, with crowds welcoming them with cheers and embraces. The ceasefire deal, which began last Sunday, aims to facilitate the release of hostages and prisoners in phases, with the first phase expected to last six weeks and see the staggered release of 33 Israeli hostages in total.