Sat Jan 18 06:13:14 UTC 2025: ## Thousands of Palestinian Prisoners to be Released in Gaza Ceasefire Deal

**JERUSALEM** – As part of a recently brokered ceasefire agreement, up to 1,650 Palestinian prisoners are expected to be released in exchange for Israeli captives held in Gaza. The release, slated for Sunday at 4 pm local time (14:00 GMT), marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict.

While the exact number and identities of those to be freed remain unclear, the Israeli Ministry of Justice has released a preliminary list of 95 Palestinian women and children. Media reports suggest the vast majority were arrested after the October 7th Hamas attacks. The exchange will unfold in phases, with over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners initially released for 33 Israeli captives. The prisoner exchange ratio varies depending on the sentence length of the Palestinian prisoners, with different ratios applied to those serving life sentences versus other terms. A reported ratio of 110 Palestinian lifers for nine injured Israeli captives underscores the complexity of the deal.

This prisoner exchange echoes past deals, most notably the 2011 release of 1,027 Palestinians for captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. However, previous such agreements have proven contentious. In 2014, Israel rearrested 51 Palestinians released in the Shalit deal, a move that sparked controversy. The current agreement’s inclusion of high-profile prisoners, such as Khalida Jarrar of the PFLP, underscores its significance. The potential release of prominent Fatah figure Marwan Barghouti, a potential future Palestinian presidential candidate, could have major political ramifications. However, his family reports having received no official confirmation of his release.

Human rights organizations have expressed deep concern regarding conditions within the Israeli prison system, citing reports of torture and abuse. Recent reports from B’Tselem and Human Rights Watch detail harrowing accounts of prisoner mistreatment, including allegations of rape and the sharing of sexualized images. These concerns cast a shadow over the release, even as the ceasefire offers a glimmer of hope for de-escalation. The release of thousands of prisoners, many held without charge under administrative detention, represents a major concession within a complex and fraught political landscape.

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