Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
In a significant development tied to the recently signed ceasefire agreement in Gaza, Israeli authorities on Monday released a second group of Palestinian hostages from Ketziot Prison in the Negev. This move is part of the first phase of the agreement brokered during the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit, co-chaired by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and former U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, 38 buses and 10 ambulances transported the freed hostages, many of whom had spent years behind bars, across the Israeli-Gazan border. They arrived at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, where they were received by their families and large crowds of citizens.
Medical staff conducted examinations on many of the returnees, and necessary treatment was administered before they were escorted back to their respective residential areas.
1,872 Hostages Released in Second Wave
This second wave of hostage releases includes 154 detainees serving life or long-term sentences, as well as 1,718 individuals who were arrested after the outbreak of the latest Gaza war on October 7, 2023.
Earlier the same day, Israeli authorities also released the first batch of detainees 96 hostages serving life and long-term sentences from Ofer Prison. They were welcomed at the Ramallah Cultural Palace in Beitunia in the West Bank by family members and Palestinian officials.
These releases are being implemented under the first stage of the ceasefire and hostage-exchange deal announced by Donald Trump on October 9. The agreement, part of a broader peace plan unveiled by Trump in late September, includes a full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, the opening of humanitarian aid corridors, and the exchange of prisoners on both sides.
Israeli Hostages Released by Hamas
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed that it facilitated the transfer of 20 Israeli hostages held in Gaza. The hostages were released in two groups and handed over to Israeli authorities in coordination with the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
These developments mark the beginning of a carefully structured process to de-escalate the Gaza conflict, which has left thousands dead and injured on both sides, and devastated much of the Gaza Strip’s infrastructure.
Mounting Concerns Over Prison Conditions
While families across Gaza celebrate the return of their loved ones, human rights groups and Palestinian institutions continue to raise alarm over the conditions faced by more than 11,000 Palestinians hostages still detained in Israeli prisons.
According to prisoner advocacy organizations, detainees face dire conditions, including systematic medical neglect, physical abuse, solitary confinement, and food deprivation. Several prisoners have reportedly died in custody over the past year as a result of these abuses.
Ongoing Tensions in the West Bank
Even as Gaza begins a tentative path toward calm, the Israeli military continues its sweeping campaign across the occupied West Bank. On Monday, Israeli forces opened fire on civilians gathered outside Ofer Prison awaiting the release of prisoners, injuring at least one young man with live ammunition.
In Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrested a Palestinian man in the Silwan neighborhood, located just south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Simultaneously, a large-scale raid was carried out in the town of Attil, north of Tulkarem, where four individuals were arrested.
Witnesses reported that dozens of young men were detained and interrogated at a home that had been seized and turned into a temporary military outpost by Israeli forces. Several detainees were reportedly beaten during the raid.
The military campaign in Tulkarem and its surrounding areas has now entered its 260th consecutive day. The ongoing operations include daily raids, home invasions, mass arrests, and the appropriation of private residences for use as military observation posts and field interrogation centers.
A Fragile but Critical First Step
While the hostage releases and ceasefire represent a breakthrough in the bloody Gaza conflict, the situation remains volatile, particularly in the West Bank. The success of the broader peace plan hinges not only on high-level political agreements but also on the immediate reality on the ground.
The international community continues to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire closely, as both hope and skepticism shape public sentiment across the region. Still, for many Palestinians in Gaza, the return of loved ones after years of separation marks a rare and deeply emotional victory amid a long and painful struggle.
