96 Palestinians, including Gaza war prisoners, released in Ramallah

 International Desk | PNN

On Monday, thousands of Palestinians gathered in Ramallah, waiting eagerly for joyful news—nearly 2,000 political prisoners and missing Palestinians were set to be released. As part of this historic prisoner exchange agreement, 96 political prisoners were received, along with the return of war-time prisoners from Gaza. Under the agreement, 20 living and 28 deceased Israeli prisoners were released from Gaza.

Additionally, 250 Palestinian political prisoners are being released, of whom 154 will be exiled to a third country—a decision that is painful for their families but reflects political realities. Most of the released individuals are residents of the West Bank and members of Hamas. However, analysts have warned that Israel may re-arrest these freed prisoners, as it has done in the past.

This exchange agreement has brought a ray of hope to many Palestinian families, as many have been reunited with their loved ones. Yet, most Palestinians believe that this offers only temporary relief and is not a permanent solution to Israel’s ongoing war against Gaza.

Even amid this moment of joy, expressions of celebration remain restricted. Israeli authorities have imposed bans on Palestinians holding any celebrations or raising national flags, which has dampened the joy of the release.

According to a recent United Nations report, over the past two years of the Gaza conflict, more than a thousand Palestinians have gone missing, many of whom were subjected to torture.

While the prisoner exchange is undoubtedly a significant moment, uncertainty and anxiety remain among Palestinians, as true peace requires not just prisoner exchanges but justice and a lasting political solution.