Israel releases 90 Palestinian security prisoners in exchange for 3 hostages

Israel has released the first batch of 90 Palestinian security prisoners in exchange for the three hostages released from Gaza, the Israel Prisons Service says.
Palestinian reports say some have been taken to Ramallah and their East Jerusalem homes.
حافلات تنقل الدفعة الأولى من الأسيرات والأسرى المفرج عنهم ضمن صفقة التبادل تصل مدينة رام الله pic.twitter.com/cIt6uH1HxO
— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) January 19, 2025
مصادر محلية: وصول الأسـ.ـيرة المقدسية زينة بربر إلى منزل عائلتها بعد الإفراج عنها ضمن صفقة التبادل بين الاحتلال والمـ.ـقاومة pic.twitter.com/BMQfoJseQb
— المركز الفلسطيني للإعلام (@PalinfoAr) January 19, 2025
Ahead of the return of the Israeli hostages, the IPS bussed the first round of Palestinian prisoners to Ofer Prison in the West Bank, where Israeli security forces and Red Cross representatives verified each prisoner’s identity and performed medical checks on them before releasing them in coordination with security forces and the government.
The prisoners include 78 West Bank residents, released at the Beitunia Checkpoint near Ofer Prison.
The remaining 12 East Jerusalem residents were transported back to the city and released back to their homes from the Russian Compound detention center.
Those released today include 69 women — including one minor — eight male minors, and 12 men sentenced for relatively minor offenses like incitement, identifying with terrorism and disorderly conduct, according to Ynet.
A total of almost 2,000 inmates are planned to be released during the first phase of the ceasefire deal.