From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Israel releases 13 Palestinian detainees into Gaza
Gianluca Pacchiani is the Arab affairs reporter for The Times of Israel
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reports that 13 Gazans held by Israel were released back into the Strip this morning.
The detainees crossed into Gaza through the Kissufim checkpoint and were transported by ambulances to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Among them is an elderly woman, according to a short clip shared by PRCS.
????Palestine Red Crescent ambulance crews attended to 13 detainees who were released today at the Kissufim checkpoint in central #Gaza and transferred them to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. pic.twitter.com/doowNXNZhR
— PRCS (@PalestineRCS) July 17, 2024
Israel has repeatedly freed Gazans arrested after October 7. Among them was the the director of Shifa Hospital Mohammad Abu Salmiya earlier his month, which caused a political uproar.
The decision to release some of the detainees appears to be motivated by the overcrowding in Israel’s detention facilities, particularly after the court-ordered closing of the Sde Teiman prison, which opened after October 7.
The Times of Israel Community.