Israel frees 110 Palestinian prisoners, including life-sentenced inmates

Israel has finally released 110 Palestinian prisoners as part of a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.

This is the third group of prisoners to be freed under the terms of the truce, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Among those released are 32 individuals sentenced to life imprisonment, 48 who had been serving long sentences, and 30 minors.

Among the Israeli hostages released was Agam Berger, who was seen walking through a rubble-strewn alley in Jabalia, northern Gaza, before being handed over to the Red Cross. Also freed were Gadi Moses, 80, and Arbel Yahud, 29, both of whom had been taken during the Hamas-led assault on Israel in October 2023. The pair were filmed embracing in the presence of armed militants and are set to be released in Khan Younis, southern Gaza.

Separately, five Thai nationals abducted in the October assault will also be released.

However, a couple of hours ago Israel ordered buses carrying 110 Palestinian prisoners due for release to return to detention facilities, postponing their planned freedom “until further notice”.

Around 1,200 Israelis were killed and more than 250 taken hostage in the October attack, one of the deadliest on Jews since the Holocaust. The ongoing Israeli military campaign in Gaza has resulted in over 47,000 Palestinian deaths.

By Aghakazim Guliyev