A total of 28 Palestinian detainees were freed from Israeli prisons and transported to the West Bank on Friday, as reported by the AFP news agency. Additionally, another 11 detainees were taken to east Jerusalem, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club advocacy group. This release is part of a larger effort to free a total of 150 Palestinian prisoners during a four-day pause in the ongoing conflict.
Israel currently holds approximately 7,200 Palestinians, with around 2,000 arrests made since October 7. The country’s legal system allows for the detention of suspects for months without charge through a practice known as administrative detention.
The released prisoners include individuals arrested for various offenses, such as attempted stabbings, throwing stones at Israeli soldiers, having connections with hostile organizations, and 15 teenagers incarcerated for throwing stones at Israeli soldiers.
In the West Bank town of Beituna, hundreds of Palestinians joyfully poured out of their homes to celebrate the release, expressing their happiness by honking horns and setting off fireworks. One of the released detainees, 17-year-old Laith Othman, shared his feelings with Reuters, stating, “I can’t express how I feel. Thank God.” Othman had been detained earlier this year on suspicion of throwing an incendiary device. He further described the difficult conditions he experienced inside the prison, expressing gratitude as he was carried along the street on someone else’s shoulders.
However, not all Palestinians felt purely celebratory. Abdulqader Khatib, a United Nations worker whose son was also freed on Friday, expressed mixed emotions. He told the Associated Press, “As a Palestinian, my heart is broken for my brothers in Gaza, so I can’t really celebrate.” Khatib’s 17-year-old son, Iyas, had been held in administrative detention without charges or trial, based on secret evidence. Despite these conflicting emotions, Khatib acknowledged his happiness as a father.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden viewed the release of the first hostages under the Israel-Hamas deal as a positive step. He referred to it as “a start” and expressed optimism about the potential to extend the truce in Gaza. The current agreement includes a four-day pause in fighting. President Biden also emphasized the need to renew efforts towards creating a two-state solution for lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
This development brings hope for the resolution of the Israel-Hamas conflict, as hostages and detainees are being released, contributing to a temporary cessation of hostilities. The release of prisoners is seen as a positive gesture and may pave the way for further negotiations and progress towards a lasting peace agreement.
Source: DW
Source: TimesKuwait
