RAMALLAH: A Palestinian prisoners advocacy group said Israeli authorities would release 110 prisoners, including 30 minors, on Thursday as part of an exchange under a Gaza ceasefire deal agreed with Hamas.
“Tomorrow, 110 Palestinian prisoners are to be released,” the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club said in a statement, referring to the third exchange of hostages and prisoners under the truce, which began on January 19.
The group said the prisoners were expected to arrive in the “Radana area of Ramallah at around noon.”
Publishing the list of the prisoners, the group said 30 were under the age of 18, 32 had been sentenced to life imprisonment, and 48 others were serving jail terms of varying lengths.
The group also said that 20 of the prisoners set to be released would be sent into exile.
In the previous two swaps, seven Israeli hostages were freed by militants in exchange for 290 prisoners — almost all Palestinians, with the exception of one Jordanian.
On Thursday, three Israeli hostages are to be freed, along with five Thai nationals.
The three Israeli hostages are Arbel Yehud, Agam Berger and Gadi Moses. The identities of the five Thais are still unknown.
A fourth swap planned for Saturday will see three Israeli men released, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
Israel to free 110 Palestinian prisoners in Gaza truce swap Thursday: NGO
https://arab.news/jg5u2
Israel to free 110 Palestinian prisoners in Gaza truce swap Thursday: NGO
- Palestinian Prisoners’ Club said 30 minors are included in the release
- 48 prisoners were serving jail terms of varying lengths
Israel prevents Palestinian vice president from attending Christmas Eve Mass in Bethlehem
- It is uncertain who from the Palestinian Authority will attend the midnight Mass in Bethlehem, which will be held for the first time in two years
LONDON: Israeli authorities prevented Hussein Al-Sheikh, the vice president of the Palestinian Authority, from attending the Christmas Eve Mass at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on Wednesday.
Forces prevented Al-Sheikh’s convoy from entering the city, believed to be the birthplace of Christ, located south of the occupied West Bank.
President Mahmoud Abbas assigned Al-Shiekh to represent him at the event and attend the Mass, according to Wafa news agency.
Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem were canceled for the past two years due to the alleged genocide in Gaza by Israel in October 2023. Manger Square instead featured a nativity scene of the infant Jesus surrounded by rubble and barbed wire, symbolizing the crisis in Gaza.
It is uncertain who from the PA will attend the midnight Mass in Bethlehem, which will be held for the first time in two years. The PA has limited autonomy in parts of the West Bank, including Bethlehem. Christians make up less than 2 percent of the territory’s approximately 3 million Palestinian residents.
