Israel to release 183 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages on Feb. 8

On February 8, 2025, Israel will release 183 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages, a move that marks a continuation of the ongoing ceasefire and prisoner exchange efforts.

According to reports by Israeli media, 18 of the prisoners set for release have been sentenced to life imprisonment, and 54 are serving long-term sentences, per Caliber.Az.

Among those to be freed is Iyad Abu-Shahidam, who has been sentenced to 18 life terms. Abu-Shahidam, a former deputy head of Hamas' military wing in Hebron, was convicted for planning a double terrorist attack in Be'er Sheva in August 2004, which resulted in 16 deaths and approximately 100 injuries.

Another notable release is Hatem al-Jayousi, one of the founders of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. He is serving six life sentences and an additional 55 years for orchestrating a terrorist attack during the Second Intifada that killed six Israelis.

Also included in the release is Jamal Tawil, a 61-year-old Hamas leader in the West Bank and former mayor of al-Bira. Tawil was involved in organizing riots and inciting violence, and his release follows a long sentence for his actions.

The release of these prisoners is part of a larger pattern of reciprocal exchanges that began with the ceasefire in Gaza on January 19, 2025. On that day, Palestinian factions released the first group of hostages, which included three Israeli women. In turn, Israel freed 90 Palestinian prisoners.

Subsequent rounds of exchanges have taken place:

• On January 25, 2025, Hamas released four female hostages who had served in the Israeli military, and in exchange, Israel freed 200 Palestinian prisoners. Of those, 114 were sent to the West Bank, 16 to Gaza, and 70 were deported to Egypt.
• On January 30, 2025, Hamas released eight hostages — three Israelis and five Thai nationals — and Israel responded by releasing 110 Palestinian prisoners.
• On February 1, 2025, three additional hostages were released from Gaza, including one Israeli citizen, one French citizen, and one U.S. citizen. In return, Israel freed 183 Palestinian prisoners, including eight individuals transferred to Egyptian territory.

By Tamilla Hasanova