Hamas terrorist serving 48 life terms freed under ceasefire seen in Gaza’s Khan Younis at handover point

Arab media footage shows a Hamas operative who was released by Israel in the ongoing hostage-ceasefire deal in Gaza, at the location where the terror group is due to hand over the bodies of four slain hostages kidnapped on October 7, 2023.

Mohammed Abu Warda was serving 48 life sentences for masterminding multiple terror attacks, including a 1996 bombing on a bus in Jerusalem that killed 45 people.

He was one of some 2,000 Palestinian security prisoners who will be freed over the current first stage of the truce deal, including hundreds serving life sentences, in exchange for the release of 25 living hostages and eight bodies.

According to Hebrew media reports, Abu Warda was meant to be deported to Egypt under the ceasefire terms.

מוחמד אבו ורדה, המחבל שנידון לעשרות מאסרי עולם על פיגועי חמאס בשנות ה-90, שוחרר והיה אמור להיות מגורש לחו"ל אבל "נתקע" בעזה (יחד עם עוד 19 מחבלים אחרים) – משתתף באירוע של מסירת החטופים החללים pic.twitter.com/ogSqu3YMaX

— Nurit Yohanan (@nurityohanan) February 20, 2025