Israel Releases 110 Palestinian Prisoners after Hamas Frees Hostages
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
GAZA CITY/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Israel released 110 Palestinian prisoners Thursday after Hamas fighters freed seven hostages – two Israelis and five Thais.
Large crowds of Palestinians gathered in Ramallah in the West Bank enclave, also known as Judea and Samaria, to welcome the released prisoners in an atmosphere described by reporters as “chaotic but joyous.”
Earlier, the hostages were freed in Gaza’s southern Palestinian city of Khan Younis as hundreds of people surrounded their vans in frightening chaos.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said they were “shocking scenes” for hostages who were kept for more than 15 long months.
An eighth hostage, Agam Berger, was released separately in Jabalia north of Gaza City as part of the controversial ceasefire deal in the Israel-Hamas war.
The armed conflict broke out when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and abducting about 250 others in what Israel described as “the worst atrocity since the Holocaust,” also known as the Shoah.
Since then, some 47,000 people in Gaza have been killed, according to Hamas-ruled authorities who do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Israel maintains it killed about 20,000 Hamas fighters, a figure confirmed by a Hamas commander who said half of the group’s 40,000 combatants had died.
Thursday’s releases meant that 15 hostages held by Hamas have been freed since the ceasefire came into effect on January 19. Eighty-two are still being held.
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