Israel Begins Releasing Palestinian Prisoners After Hostages Freed

Israel has initiated the release of Palestinian prisoners after the return of the remaining live hostages held in Gaza. The first batch of released prisoners left Ofer Prison near Jerusalem on Monday for the West Bank.

Around 1,700 Palestinian detainees, including some serving life sentences, were released by Israel on October 7, 2023. The release came after Hamas handed over the last 20 live hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas resulted in the abduction of 251 people on October 7, 2023, leading to a significant loss of lives and triggering the Gaza war.