In arbitrary move, 'Israel' halts release of Palestinian prisoners

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
30 Jan 2025 15:27
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Palestinian prisoners had already boarded the buses and prepared for release when they were unexpectedly ordered off.

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Israeli soldier Agam Berger is escorted out of a damaged building and onto a stage in northern Gaza’s Jabalia before she is handed over to the Red Cross on January 30, 2025 (AFP)

"Israel" has abruptly halted the release of Palestinian prisoners and detainees scheduled for release today following the return of Israeli captives.

Israeli media reported that the halt follows "protests sparked by the scenes of the release of the captives in Khan Younis," without elaborating.

The report noted that the Palestinian prisoners and detainees had already boarded the buses and were on their way out of Ofer prison when they were unexpectedly ordered off.

Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that the delay is expected to last for several hours, while an Israeli media platform suggested the release might take place late into the night.

Meanwhile, Israeli outlets cited a decision by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Security Minister Israel Katz to postpone the release until a "safe exit" is ensured for Israeli captives in future exchanges, although no safety-related incident was recorded in this exchange or any other.

Talking about "safe exit", it is worth mentioning that several Palestinian prisoners and detainees were repeatedly assaulted and brutally beaten by Israeli occupation forces shortly before their release.

Israeli Army Radio, quoting a senior official, stated, "Just as they delayed the release of our hostages, we will also delay the release of Palestinian prisoners."

It is worth noting that "Israel" has previously suspended the release of Palestinian detainees and prisoners under various pretexts, using the tactic as a psychological leverage in negotiations and to manage public perception.

The released Israeli captives have all returned in good health and have expressed gratitude gestures toward Resistance fighters during the exchange, sparking outrage within the Israeli government.

Later, the Prisoners' Information Office announced that after following up on the matter with mediators, the obstruction from the Israeli side was resolved and the process of the release of the Palestinian prisoners will resume. They are expected to be released at 5:00 pm, Palestine local time.

Gaza Resistance releases three Israeli captives in handover to ICRC

Earlier today, the Palestinian Resistance released three Israeli captives in the third round of the first phase of the Al-Aqsa Flood prisoner exchange deal, in addition to 5 Thai nationals.

Agam Berger, Arbel Yehud, and Gadi Mozes were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Thenna Pongsak, Sathian Suwannakham, Sriaoun Watchara, Seathao Bannawat, and Rumnao Surasak were also released as part of the exchange process.

The Israeli occupation military later confirmed that the released Israeli captives were received by the Israeli army and the Shin Bet in the designated area in the Gaza Strip.

Crowds filled the two handover locations, north and south of the Gaza Strip, including just outside martyred leader Yahya Sinwar's destroyed residence in Khan Younis, where the Resistance flags were flown.

Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza confirmed that the Palestinians raised pictures of Resistance leaders from Lebanon to Yemen, including martyred Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and the leader of the Ansar Allah movement in Yemen, Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi.

In detail, while Agam Berger was handed over to the ICRC from among the rubble of destroyed houses in Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip, the handover process of Arbel Yehud and Gadi Mozes took place in front of the house of martyr Sinwar in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip.

The al-Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades and the Mujahideen Brigades said their groups participated alongside the al-Qassam Brigades and the al-Quds Brigades in the handover process from in front of the house of the martyr Yahya Sinwar, according to the brigades' spokespeople Abu Ataya and Abu Bilal respectively.

Earlier, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent reported that preparations were underway for the handing over of Israeli captives in Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

Our correspondent noted that the handover process took place from different locations.

The military wings of the Palestinian Resistance factions held a military parade in Khan Younis before the handover amidst the crowds.

Earlier, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent reported that preparations were underway for the handing over of Israeli captives in Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

Our correspondent noted that the handover process took place from different locations.

'Israel' to release 110 Palestinian prisoners, detainees

Israeli occupation authorities are set to release 110 Palestinian prisoners and detainees today, Thursday, in exchange for the release of three Israeli captives in Gaza, as part of the prisoner exchanges stipulated in the ceasefire agreement, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS).

The PPS detailed in its statement that 32 are serving life sentences, 48 have received varying prison terms, and 30 are minors.

The statement noted that the freed prisoners and detainees are expected to arrive in Ramallah around noon (10:00 GMT), while 20 of them will be deported to outside Palestinian territory, similar to previous releases.

The detainees are being released in exchange for the release of two Israeli female captives—Arbel Yehud (29 years old) and Agam Berger (20 years old)—as well as an elderly man, Gadi Mozes, who holds both Israeli and German citizenship.

Since the start of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement between "Israel" and Hamas on January 19, seven Israeli women have been released in exchange for 290 Palestinian prisoners and detainees from Israeli jails.

On January 20, during the first round of exchanges—carried out on the first day of the agreement’s implementation—the Palestinian Resistance handed over three Israeli female captives in exchange for the release of 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including women and children, from Israeli prisons.

Similarly, on January 25, the occupation released 200 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in the second round of the exchange process, as announced by the Israeli Prison Service.

Palestinian Resistance to release 11 Israeli captives this week

On Wednesday, "Israel" announced that 11 captives held in Gaza would be released this week—eight on Thursday and three on Saturday.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office stated that it had received a list from Hamas with the names of eight captives—three Israelis and five Thai nationals—who were set to be released on Thursday, in addition to three Israeli male captives who were expected to be released on Saturday.

Earlier, Hamas accused "Israel" of delaying the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, warning that this could impact the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and the prisoner exchange process, while the occupation denied the accusations.

Hamas and "Israel" had reached a ceasefire agreement, with its first phase—implemented on January 19—outlining a prisoner exchange between the two sides and an increase in humanitarian aid deliveries to the besieged enclave.

The first phase of the ceasefire is set to last six weeks, during which 33 captives in Gaza will be released in exchange for approximately 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israeli occupation prisons.