After seven weeks of war, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a four-day truce. As a gesture of goodwill, Israel released 39 Palestinian women and children on Friday. The group included 17 minors, of which two are girls and the rest are boys. These prisoners were transferred from Israeli prisons to the Israel-controlled Ofer prison in the occupied West Bank in the early evening, and then released in International Committee of the Red Cross buses at 8pm local time.
Israel has also agreed to release 150 more Palestinian women and children prisoners from its jails in exchange for the release of 50 women and children taken captive during the October 7 attack by Hamas. Additionally, the Israeli Ministry of Justice has presented a list of 300 Palestinian prisoners that it is considering for release. The potential second phase of exchanges is contingent upon Hamas releasing more captives, with the deal allowing for a one-day extension of the truce for every 10 additional prisoners released by Hamas.
The majority of the prisoners on the list of 300 are boys aged 16-18, but it also includes boys as young as 14. Most of the prisoners on the list were arrested between 2021 and 2023, but there are also individuals who have been imprisoned for several years, such as Shorouq Dwayyat, who was arrested in 2015 and is currently serving the longest sentence among Palestinian female prisoners in Israeli jails.
Many of the prisoners have been convicted of crimes like carrying and manufacturing knives, throwing stones, and illegally entering Israel without a permit. Stone-throwing, in particular, can carry a 20-year sentence in prison for Palestinian children. The prisoners will be taken to Israel’s military Ofer prison, from where the ones from Jerusalem will go to Jerusalem, and the ones from the West Bank will gather in Betunia municipal council where their families will be waiting.
Before October 7, there were about 5,200 Palestinians in Israeli custody. However, following the Hamas attack of October 7, the number of Palestinians arrested skyrocketed and 3,000 more were arrested, including 37 journalists. These prisoners are often subjected to administrative detention, physical violence, and medical negligence. Additionally, there are at least 700 Palestinian children prosecuted every year through Israeli military courts after being arrested, interrogated and detained by the Israeli army.