Al-Bireh, West Bank - Israeli authorities released 39 Palestinians, including six females and 33 minors, from Israeli jails on Sunday, marking the second phase of a prisoner swap deal with the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas.
According to Philippines News Agency, the official Palestinian news agency, WAFA, reported that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the transfer of 34 detainees from the Israeli Ofer prison to Al-Bireh in the central West Bank. Celebrations erupted as hundreds of Palestinians gathered in Al-Bireh's municipality square to welcome the released detainees. Additionally, five detainees from occupied East Jerusalem were freed from the Al-Masqoubiyeh prison and reunited with their families.
This prisoner exchange, a key element of a larger agreement between Israel and Hamas, involved the swap of 41 Israelis and foreigners for 78 Palestinians from Israeli jails, conducted over two days during a four-day humanitarian pause. The arrangement outlined the release of hostages and prisoners in two separate batches.
The swap occurred amid escalated tensions and conflict, following a significant Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for a cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7. The conflict has led to substantial casualties, including at least 14,854 Palestinians, with 6,150 children and over 4,000 women among them, as reported by health authorities in Gaza. The official Israeli death toll is reported at 1,200.