Israel released
183 Palestinian detainees in exchange for three Israeli captives on 1 February
as part of the fourth prisoner swap under the ceasefire agreement underway in
Gaza.
The group of
detainees consists of 111 Palestinians from the Gaza Strip who were abducted by
the Israeli army during its ethnic cleansing campaign in the enclave.
Additionally, 32 detainees are from the occupied West Bank; they were
transferred to the International Red Cross from the Ofer Prison facility close
to Ramallah.
Palestinian
health authorities report that many of the released detainees were taken
directly to medical facilities due to signs of torture, starvation, and
infections, including scabies. “Once again, every time prisoners are released,
we find the prisoners’ bodies reflecting the level of crimes committed against
them, including torture that is unprecedented in its level after October 7,”
the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS) said in a statement.
“The transfer of
a number of released prisoners directly to hospitals to receive treatment,
after spending years in captivity, confirms the extent of the ugliness of what
they are exposed to inside fascist prisons, where the occupation practices
brutal methods of torture that violate all international norms and laws related
to prisoners,” the Prisoners' Media Office in Gaza denounced.
Hamas also
condemned the mistreatment of Palestinians inside Israeli prisons and torture
camps, saying, "These horrific and ongoing violations against our heroic
prisoners constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
Earlier on
Saturday, Hamas released three Israeli captives to officials from the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Two of the captives were freed
in a customary ceremony in front of onlookers in the southern city of Khan
Yunis, while the third was handed over to the ICRC later in Gaza City in the
north.
The ceasefire
agreement for Gaza commenced on 19 January, aiming to put an end to a
15-month-long genocide and secure the release of captives held in the besieged
area in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Israel has provided a
list of over 700 Palestinians who will be released under this arrangement.
Among them, over 230 serving life sentences will be permanently exiled upon
their release.
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