Media: Israel to free 110 Palestinian prisoners in third phase of ceasefire deal VIDEO

Today, on January 30, 110 Palestinians will be released from Israeli prisons as part of the third phase of a ceasefire and captive exchange agreement between Israel and Hamas.

In addition, Hamas and other Palestinian groups will release eight captives, including five Thai nationals and three Israelis, Caliber.Az reports, citing Al Jazeera.

The majority of the freed Palestinians are expected to arrive in the Radana area of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, around 12 pm local time (10:00 GMT), according to the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society. However, 20 of the prisoners will be exiled outside Palestine.

Among those released is Zakaria Zubeidi, 49, a former prominent resistance fighter and theatre director. Zubeidi, once leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, was active during the Second Intifada and gained widespread recognition in 2021 after a daring jailbreak from an Israeli high-security prison. He later co-founded The Freedom Theatre in the Jenin refugee camp, which has become a hub for cultural resistance to Israeli occupation.

The release of these 110 prisoners brings the total to 400 Palestinians freed under the ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Despite these releases, Israeli forces continue to carry out operations in the occupied West Bank, including an ongoing military operation in Jenin that has led to multiple deaths and arrests. Additionally, in East Jerusalem, at least 12 Palestinians were detained last week for allegedly violating bans on expressions of joy and identification with Hamas.

As of now, around 10,400 Palestinians remain imprisoned by Israel, with many held in administrative detention without trial. This includes Palestinian prisoners from Gaza, such as Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, director of Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital, who was detained during an Israeli raid on his hospital in late December. 

By Khagan Isayev