Hamas has requested that Israel include several prominent Palestinian prisoners in a proposed prisoner release list associated with a ceasefire agreement, which also involves the return of hostages from Gaza. This demand follows the Israeli justice ministry’s release of a list of 250 prisoners set to be freed, which notably excludes seven high-profile individuals, including Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat. Both Barghouti and Saadat are serving lengthy sentences after being convicted of involvement in various attacks in Israel and are viewed as significant figures by many Palestinians.
The release of twenty Israeli hostages is anticipated before noon on Monday as part of a deal discussed by U.S. President Donald Trump. A senior Palestinian official informed the BBC that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff plans to address the exclusion of these Palestinian prisoners with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, Israel has reportedly rejected the inclusion of these high-profile prisoners.
It remains uncertain whether this exclusion could delay the proposed timeline for returning hostages from Gaza or affect the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. The deals for release are linked to the initial phase of Trump’s ceasefire agreement, aimed at concluding the ongoing conflict in the region. The methodology of releasing hostages is also unclear, as past instances involved public displays that angered Israeli officials and their Western allies.
The agreement also involves the return of deceased hostages, with reports suggesting that at least 26 hostages have died, while the status of two remains unknown. Alongside the 250 prisoners, around 1,700 Palestinian individuals detained in Gaza are set for release. Hamas has suggested additional prisoner releases that include individuals previously exchanged for hostages but later re-arrested.
The conflict escalated following Hamas’s attacks on October 7, 2023, resulting in significant casualties and triggering Israel’s military response in Gaza, which has reportedly led to the deaths of over 67,000 Palestinians according to local health authorities.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd727d2ne42o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss