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| Palestinian detainees are packed into an Israeli army truck. They are shirtless and blindfolded | Photo: Reuters |
More than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are preparing for freedom. Many of these prisoners have been held in Israeli jails for years without charge.
It is unclear exactly how many Palestinian prisoners are being released in exchange for Israelis held hostage in Gaza under the ceasefire agreement.
The written details of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel have not yet been released, but various media reports have cited varying ratios of Israeli hostage and Palestinian prisoner exchange.
The ratio depends on whether Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons are serving life sentences.
According to the Commission on Palestinian Prisoners and Former Prisoners and the Palestine Prisoners Society, there are currently 10,400 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons. This does not include Palestinians detained in Gaza during the past 15 months of conflict.
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| Houses were destroyed by Israeli forces. Khan Younis, Gaza, Palestine, January 1, 2025 | Photo: AP |
The Israeli Justice Ministry released a list of 95 Palestinian women and children to be released on Sunday as the implementation of the ceasefire agreement begins. However, the names of the other prisoners who will be released have not been revealed.
According to the terms of the agreement, they will not be released before 4:00 pm local time today.
According to media reports, a list published by Israel shows that a large number of Palestinians have been arrested since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Less than 10 Palestinians were arrested before the attack.
First step
The ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel is in three stages. The first phase of the agreement will see the release of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 33 Israeli hostages. The number of Israeli hostages held in Gaza is estimated at 100.
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| Israeli attacks on Gaza have been ongoing for the past 15 months | Photo: AFP |
According to the terms of the agreement, hostages will be exchanged in a ratio agreed upon by both sides (Hamas-Israel) in Doha, as well as international mediators.
According to media reports, 110 Palestinian prisoners sentenced to life in prison by an Israeli court will be released in exchange for nine sick and injured Israeli hostages.
In addition, the ratio of Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences to Israeli male hostages over the age of 50 will be 1:3. The ratio of Palestinian prisoners serving other terms to Israeli hostages will be 1:27.
Previous prisoner exchanges
Prisoner swaps have occurred in the past. For example, during peace talks in 2013, Israel agreed to release more than 100 Palestinians. The aim was to strengthen the talks.
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| Gaza has been reduced to rubble by Israel's indiscriminate attacks | Photo: Reuters |
In 1983, more than 4,500 Palestinian prisoners were released in exchange for six Israeli soldiers.
Similarly, in 1985, approximately 1,150 Palestinian prisoners were released in exchange for 3 Israeli soldiers.
Large-scale prisoner
Among the Palestinian prisoners scheduled to be released today is Khaleda Jarrar, the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), an organization in the occupied West Bank, Israeli Army Radio reported.
Palestinians are calling for the release of several other high-profile prisoners. Some of them are serving life sentences.
One of them is Marwan Barghouti, the leader of the Palestinian organization Fatah. His long-awaited release has been repeatedly blocked by Israeli authorities.
Al Jazeera contacted Marwan's representatives and family members on Friday. They said they were hopeful that Marwan would be released, but had not received any information about his possible release.
Another high-profile Palestinian prisoner is PFLP leader Ahmed Sadat, who was indicted by Israel for ordering the assassination of then-Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze'ev in 2001, although the Israeli Justice Ministry initially decided there was insufficient evidence to charge him.