Bus of Palestinian captives leaves Ofer prison after Gaza ceasefire deal

A bus carrying Palestinian detainees arrived in the West Bank town of Beitunia on Saturday, following the release of detainees by Israel in Gaza. The prisoners, who had departed from Ofer prison in the occupied West Bank, arrived in Beitunia near Ramallah, where they were greeted by cheering relatives.

According to Hamas' prisoner information office, this fourth group of released individuals included 18 prisoners serving life sentences, 54 prisoners serving lengthy sentences, and 111 prisoners from the Gaza Strip who were arrested after October 7, 2023. To prevent Palestinians from gathering, Israeli forces implemented strict security measures and closed all roadblocks around the city of Ramallah, causing significant traffic congestion.

Israeli soldiers also continued to raid the homes of some released prisoners and threatened their families in an effort to prevent any celebrations or expressions of joy. This release followed the release of three Israeli detainees—Keith Siegel, Ofer Calderon, and Yarden Bibas—in two different locations in Gaza City and Khan Yunis. Hamas set up a stage on the Gaza seafront for the handover of the detainees, who were told to wave before being taken away in Red Cross vehicles, and they are reportedly undergoing medical checks.

Hamas and its supporters chanted "We are the men of Mohammed Deif," referring to the Hamas leader, whose death was confirmed by the group on Thursday. One of the released prisoners, Wael Samara, told Middle East Eye that he had spent 22 years in Israeli prisons, and the feeling of freedom was indescribable, like being reborn. He added, "They were very rough with us during our release, as if it was a reaction to our freedom." Another prisoner who served 18 years said his joy was priceless. "Our greatest joy is that all prisoners are released," said Ali Nazar. Nazar, in an interview with Middle East Eye, held his child for the first time, a child conceived through sperm smuggled from Israeli prisons during his detention. Another released prisoner, Mahmoud Kadoumi, said he had spent 23 years in prison. "I was dead, suspended, and this is my rebirth, only today does my life begin," he said.

On January 15, Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas agreed to a ceasefire to end Israel's 15-month-long attacks on the Gaza Strip, which have resulted in the deaths of at least 46,707 Palestinians. The majority of those killed were women and children, and experts believe the actual death toll is much higher, as many bodies are buried under rubble. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the Israeli government is "committed to bringing all abductees and missing persons home." The Gaza Health Ministry stated that, as part of the ceasefire agreement, 50 Palestinian patients traveled to Egypt through the Rafah crossing on Saturday, the first time the crossing has been opened in nearly nine months. Cairo News broadcast footage of the first 50 evacuees and their 53 companions, including a child with an autoimmune disease, crossing the border into Egypt for treatment. Last Saturday, Israel released 200 Palestinian prisoners who were serving life sentences and other long-term imprisonments, with 70 of them being deported from Palestine under the pretext that they could pose a security threat to Israel. Families of these prisoners confirmed that they had received assurances that facilitating their travel was part of the exchange agreement. However, Israel has not honored this promise, preventing them from traveling to meet their released family members and even insulting them.