Israel Announces Release of 90 Palestinian Prisoners

Israel has released its first 90 Palestinian security detainees in exchange for the release of three hostages from Gaza, the Israel Prison Service (IPS) has announced.

Palestinian sources said some of those released were taken to Ramallah and their homes in East Jerusalem.

Prior to the return of the three female Israeli hostages, IPS bused the first group of Palestinian detainees to Ofer Prison in the West Bank, where Israeli security forces and Red Cross representatives verified the identity of each detainee and conducted medical checks before releasing them, in coordination with the security forces and the government.

The detainees include 78 West Bank residents who were released at the Beitunia Checkpoint near Ofer Prison.

The remaining 12 East Jerusalem residents were taken back to the city and sent back home from the Russian Compound detention center.

According to Ynet, those released today include 69 women (one a minor), eight boys and 12 men convicted of relatively minor offences such as identification with terrorism and disorderly conduct.

A total of approximately 2 prisoners are planned to be released in the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.