39 Palestinian women and children who have been in prison in Israel are to be released in the exchange of flags between Hamas and Israel. We are talking about 24 women and 15 teenagers. Just around 5 p.m., the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Qatar announced that they have all been released from Israeli prison. Palestinian Authority authorities in the West Bank have not yet confirmed this. People gather on a hill overlooking the Israeli military compound Ofer in the occupied West Bank. They are waiting for the release of the Palestinian prisoners. Photo: JAAFAR ASHTIYEH / AFP All of the Palestinians who are released were imprisoned without trial, in so-called administrative detention. In practice, this means that they have been imprisoned without charge, and without a sentence. The arrest is based on suspicion, and the imprisonment is for an indefinite period. Israel’s use of administrative detention has been criticized for a long time, including by Amnesty. Temporary ceasefire Several Palestinians lined up on the hilltops around the Israeli military facility Ofer, where the 39 Palestinian prisoners are expected to be. Israeli soldiers threw tear gas at the Palestinian spectators – apparently completely unprovoked. The 39 are released as part of the exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel. The agreement is part of the temporary ceasefire in Gaza. 50 Israeli hostages are to be released in exchange for 150 imprisoned Palestinians, the agreement states. In addition, hundreds of trucks with emergency aid are to be allowed into Gaza. Transporting prisoners and hostages In a statement, the International Committee of the Red Cross said it had launched a “multi-day operation to facilitate the release and transfer of hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners to the West Bank.” The Red Cross car is part of a convoy believed to be carrying hostages abducted by Hamas during the October 7 attack on Israel. Here the column arrives at the Rafah border Photo: IBRAHEEM ABU MUSTAFA / Reuters The humanitarian organization will also bring in additional medical supplies to Gaza, the statement says. “Our deep desire is for all hostages to be released, and for civilians to be shielded from the pain and suffering that armed conflict brings,” says Fabrizio Carboni, the ICRC’s regional director for the Middle East.
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