Chicago January 21, 2025
Israel Releases 90 Palestinian Prisoners in Exchange Deal
Israel has freed 90 Palestinian prisoners, including women and teenagers, as part of a deal with Hamas. The prisoners were released from Israel’s Ofer prison and were greeted by cheering crowds in the West Bank.
The release is part of a larger deal that involves Hamas releasing 33 Israeli hostages held in Gaza over the next six weeks. In exchange, Israel will release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
Among those released was Khalida Jarrar, a 62-year-old political leader who had been held under administrative detention. Jarrar expressed mixed emotions, saying she was happy to be free but sad about the suffering of other Palestinians.
The deal also includes a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. The first three Israeli hostages were released by Hamas on Sunday, and Israel is expected to release more Palestinian prisoners in the coming weeks.
