Hamas announces names of Palestinians to be freed in prisoner swap with Israel

Hamas released the names of 183 Palestinian detainees set to be freed on February 1 as part of a prisoner swap and ceasefire agreement with Israel.

According to a statement from Hamas’ Prisoners' Information Office, the individuals to be released include 18 prisoners serving life sentences, 54 with long-term sentences, and 111 Palestinians from Gaza arrested since October 7, 2023, the day the war between Hamas and Israel began, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

The detainees belong to various Palestinian factions, with 54 identified as members of Fatah, 8 from Hamas, 6 affiliated with the Islamic Jihad, 2 from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and 2 from the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP). Additionally, seven of the detainees will be deported after their release.

Earlier, Hamas' military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, also released the names of three Israeli captives who are set to be freed as part of the same agreement. The three Israeli captives are identified as Ofer Calderon, Keith Samuel Siegel, and Yarden Bibas. The release of these individuals is part of phase one of the deal, which is scheduled to last for 42 days, with 33 Israeli captives to be exchanged for approximately 1,700 to 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

In the most recent exchange, Hamas freed three Israeli and five Thai hostages in Gaza on January 30, while Israel released 110 Palestinian prisoners. This marks the third prisoner swap since the ceasefire agreement took effect on January 19, 2025.

The ceasefire and prisoner swap deal come amid ongoing violence and a devastating humanitarian crisis. Since the war erupted on October 7, 2023, Israeli military operations in Gaza have resulted in over 47,400 Palestinian deaths, the majority of whom are women and children.

The situation remains tense as both sides continue negotiations for further exchanges, with the humanitarian and political implications of the deal continuing to unfold.

By Vafa Guliyeva