Under a new ceasefire agreement, Israel has begun releasing nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees as part of a broader exchange deal mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States. According to official lists published by Israel’s Ministry of Justice, about 250 of those released were serving life sentences after being convicted in Israeli courts for various offences, while 1,718 others had been detained since the October 7, 2023 attacks but not yet convicted.
The prisoner releases are part of a phased truce arrangement that also includes the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Reports indicate that at least 20 hostages have already been freed under the first phase of the agreement. Israel made the list of 250 life-sentence inmates public to allow petitions before the Supreme Court, a standard procedure in high-profile prisoner exchanges.
Human rights observers say the move highlights the scale of detentions in the months following the Gaza conflict, many of which were carried out under administrative orders allowing imprisonment without formal charge. However, Israeli officials insist the release process excludes prisoners deemed to pose a continuing security risk.
Some released prisoners will reportedly be exiled to third countries, a provision that has drawn criticism from Palestinian groups and rights organisations. The agreement, if fully implemented, could represent a significant step toward easing tensions after months of conflict, though questions remain over the legal status of many detainees and the durability of the current ceasefire.
