Israel Frees 90 Palestinian Prisoners Under Truce Deal With Hamas As 3 Hostages Return Home

<p>Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners on Monday as part of the ceasefire-hostage release deal with Hamas. The development came as the Palestinian militant group freed three Israeli hostages under the terms of the deal.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Footage from the ground showed crowds surrounding a bus that carried the freed Palestinian prisoners with people cheering, chanting, and honking car horns in excitement. 69 women and 21 teenage boys were among the prisoners freed and over the first phase of the truce Israel is expected to release about 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, reported BBC.&nbsp;</p>
<p>”Inside the bus, a handful of the freed women smiled and flashed V-signs, while a Red Cross staff member watched on,” reported AFP.&nbsp;</p>
<p>According to Hamas, the freed prisoners are from West Bank and Jerusalem where people gathered in huge numbers to greet them. &nbsp;</p>
<p>Among Palestinians who have been freed is politician Khalida Jarrar, according to media reports by the Associated Press and the New York Times. She is a prominent leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a group designated a “terrorist organisation” by Israel, the US and the European Union.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Jarrar has been in and out of jail for much of the past decade, being previously convicted of charges like incitement.</p>
<p>The Palestinian prisoners were freed in exchange for three Israeli hostages held by Hamas. All three arrived in Israel on Sunday and were reunited with their families. A total of 33 hostages are to be freed over the next six weeks.</p>
<p>Romi Gonen (24), Doron Steinbrecher (31), and Emily Damari (28) were the three hostages released. Gonen was captured as she tried to escape the Nova music festival which was targeted by Hamas during the October 7 surprise attack.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Steinbrecher, a veterinary nurse was abducted from her apartment in Kibbutz Kfar Aza – near Gaza’s north-western border during the surprise attack.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Damari, a British-Israeli national was also taken as hostage from Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7, 2023.</p>