From the Liveblog of
Saturday, January 25, 2025
Israel Prison Service says 200 Palestinian prisoners have been released; crowds celebrate in Ramallah
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Israel’s prison service says it has released 200 Palestinian prisoners as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal, which earlier today saw Hamas free four Israeli female hostages.
“After the conclusion of the necessary activities in the prisons and the approval of political authorities, all the terrorists were released from the Ofer and Ktziot prisons,” the service says in a statement, adding that 200 prisoners have been freed.
Crowds of Palestinians erupted in joy as they welcomed dozens of prisoners who arrived on buses in Ramallah.
Stepping off the bus in grey tracksuits, many prisoners were raised onto the shoulders of people waiting, while others walked through the crowd.
Pure joy: Ramallah: pic.twitter.com/AYDeHITwvv
— PalMedia (@PalMediaOrg) January 25, 2025
Hamas said earlier that 70 of the freed prisoners would be deported — Israel has said that Palestinian prisoners who have been convicted of killing Israelis should be permanently deported if they are freed under the hostage-ceasefire agreement, and would not be allowed to return to homes in the West Bank or Gaza.
Egyptian state TV said two hours ago that 70 Palestinian prisoners had been released by Israel into Egypt.
The Times of Israel Community.