Release of 90 Palestinian detainees hits snag as Israel withholds one agreed prisoner VIDEO

As many as ninety Palestinian detainees, set to be freed on January 19, have been released from Israel’s Ofer prison, despite a prolonged delay. 

After several hours, buses carrying the detainees from occupied East Jerusalem began their journey out of the facility, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Among the released detainees were 69 women and 21 young men under the age of 21. Seventy-eight of them returned to Judea and Samaria (the West Bank), while 12 went to the Arab quarters of Jerusalem.

Other buses followed, bringing liberated Palestinian women and children back to their families.

The release of the detainees followed the earlier release of three Israeli women captives by the Palestinian Resistance, who had been held in Gaza.

However, the Hamas structure responsible for detainee affairs reported that on January 19, Israeli authorities failed to release one of the prisoners whose name had previously been agreed upon.

Negotiations are ongoing through intermediaries and the International Committee of the Red Cross regarding the release of this detainee, with a demand for Israel to adhere to the agreed-upon lists.

Palestinians welcome freed prisoners in Beitunia amid celebrations.#GazaPrevailsAgainstGenocide #غزة_تهزم_الإبادة pic.twitter.com/djSSKq870D

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) January 19, 2025

Thus, as the buses made their way to Beitunia, a town near the prison, crowds of Palestinians gathered to welcome the detainees. However, Israeli forces attempted to disrupt the celebrations, using force to disperse the crowds and threatening arrests. 

Tensions escalated when Israeli gunfire injured one Palestinian in Beitunia, while the Palestinian Red Crescent reported two more individuals wounded by gunfire.

Despite the violent suppression, Palestinians continued to gather throughout the evening, celebrating the release of the detainees, which marks a significant moment amid the ongoing political and military tensions in the region.

By Aghakazim Guliyev