Israel Announces Release Of 700 Palestinian Prisoners And Prepares For Gaza Withdrawal

On Saturday, the Israeli Ministry of Justice published a list of over 700 Palestinian prisoners who will be released as part of a ceasefire agreement. This move comes alongside an announcement from the Israeli army confirming its readiness to withdraw from certain areas of the Gaza Strip as part of the same deal.

The list of prisoners was made public shortly after the Israeli Cabinet approved the ceasefire agreement, which also involves the release of dozens of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian detainees. The Ministry of Justice confirmed that the release of prisoners will begin at 4:00 PM local time on Sunday, in alignment with the start of the prisoner exchange.

Included in the release are individuals from Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Fatah, some of whom have been serving life sentences for charges like murder. However, the list notably excludes Marwan Barghouti, a prominent Palestinian leader and key figure in the Second Intifada, who is often seen as a potential presidential candidate. Despite requests from Hamas, Israeli officials rejected the inclusion of Barghouti in the ceasefire deal.

Also listed is Zakaria Zubeidi, a prominent Fatah leader known for his dramatic escape from an Israeli maximum-security prison in 2021. Zubeidi, who was later recaptured, will be allowed to return to his home in Jenin as part of the agreement. Tragically, his son Mohammed was killed in 2024 during an Israeli drone strike targeting individuals deemed “terrorists” in Jenin.

The Israeli army is preparing to begin a gradual withdrawal from Gaza, starting on Sunday. This withdrawal will focus on specific locations within the Gaza Strip. However, Israeli officials have made it clear that Palestinians will not be permitted to return to areas currently under Israeli control or near the border.

Under the ceasefire agreement, 33 Israeli hostages are set to be released over the next six weeks in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The Israeli army will also pull back from the Netzarim corridor in the first phase, with additional withdrawals to follow. A buffer zone of 800 meters will remain under Israeli military control within Gaza.

It is important to note that Israeli military actions since October 7, 2023, have led to a devastating toll, with 46,876 people killed and 110,642 injured, most of them women and children.