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<a class="gmail-domain gmail-reader-domain" href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/200-palestinian-prisoners-freed-in-defiance-of-israeli-intra">english.almayadeen.net</a>
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<h1 class="gmail-reader-title">200 Palestinian prisoners freed in defiance of Israeli intransigence</h1>
<div class="gmail-credits gmail-reader-credits">Al Mayadeen English</div>
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<div class="gmail-reader-estimated-time">January 25, 2025<br></div>
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<div class="gmail-moz-reader-content gmail-reader-show-element"><div id="gmail-readability-page-1" class="gmail-page"><p>The
Israeli Prison Service has announced the release of 200 Palestinian
prisoners and detainees in the second phase of the prisoner exchange
deal with the Palestinian Resistance.</p><img src="cid:ii_m6cdd3kw1" alt="ae57c11d-e26f-417c-8747-010a97c26944.jpg" width="440" height="293"><br><div><ul id="gmail-content-slick-0"><div aria-hidden="false"><li>
Former Palestinian prisoners released by "Israel" gesture as
they ride in one of the buses of the International Committee of the Red
Cross (ICRC) as it moves in the town of Beitunia near Ramallah in the
occupied West Bank on January 25, 2025. (<em>AFP</em>)
</li></div></ul>
<p>200 Palestinian prisoners and detainees were released today,
Saturday, in the second phase of the prisoner exchange deal, the Israeli
Prison Service announced.</p>
<p>According to the Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs Commission and
the Palestinian Prisoners Society, the second batch comprised 200
Palestinian prisoners and detainees with life sentences and long prison
terms.</p>
<p>Three buses carrying the Palestinian prisoners and detainees
liberated by the Resistance arrived in the city of Ramallah in the West
Bank, where a huge public reception was held for them.</p>
<p>Among the freed prisoners was Mohammad al-Arida, one of the heroes of
Operation Freedom Tunnel, as well as Iyad Jaradat who took part in the
operation.</p>
<p>The longest-serving among the Jenin prisoners, Raed al-Saadi, who
spent 36 years in the occupation prisons as part of his term of two life
sentences and 20 years, and Thabet al-Mardawi, who was accused of
digging a tunnel in the Shatta prison and attempting to break out, were
also released.</p>
<p>Today's exchange also saw the release of prisoner Houssam Abed, who was serving three life sentences and 55 and a half years.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, crowds in Ramallah carried the freed prisoners on their
shoulders and waved the victory sign, while the prisoners and detainees
thanked the Palestinian Resistance in Gaza, which was the reason behind
their release.</p>
<h2>Gaza receives 16 released detainees</h2>
<p>In conjunction with the arrival of the buses of the released prisoners and detainees to the West Bank, 16 <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/gaza-residents--return-tied-to-arbel-yehoud-release--pmo">arrived at the Gaza</a>
European Hospital in the city of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza
Strip, where crowds of people gathered to receive them and chanted for
the Resistance.</p>
<p>Upon seeing this,<strong> Al Mayadeen</strong>'s correspondent in
Gaza said, "For the first time since October 7 in the Strip, we hear the
sounds of ululations upon the return of the released detainees."</p>
<p>Meanwhile, a number of Palestinian prisoners and detainees set to be
deported outside Palestine arrived at the Rafah crossing on their way to
Egypt.</p>
<p>Two buses entered Egyptian territory carrying 70 Palestinian prisoners with life sentences after their release.</p>
<p>Earlier, a senior Palestinian official informed <strong>Al Mayadeen</strong>
that Algeria, Tunisia, and Turkiye are ready to receive Palestinian
detainees who were released on the condition of deportation outside
Palestine, however, they must first travel to Egypt.</p>
<p>According to <em>Reuters</em>, citing Palestinian officials, around
70 have been deported to Egypt, another 16 were sent to Gaza, while the
remaining detainees will be released to the occupied West Bank.</p>
<h2>Gaza; a model for global liberation</h2>
<p>A number of released prisoners and detainees saluted the people of
Gaza and its Resistance; as were it not for their sacrifices, they would
not have seen the light of freedom.</p>
<p>One released detainee told <strong>Al Mayadeen</strong>, "We thank Gaza and its people... you have fulfilled your pledge."</p>
<p>Another detainee said, "We thank the people of Gaza. Our freedom is thanks to the Resistance that we must preserve.”</p>
<p>“We must remain united,” he asserted.</p>
<p>Another said, "A salute to our people in Gaza who have made great sacrifices."</p>
<p>On his part, liberated detainee Wael al-Jaghoub told <strong>Al Mayadeen</strong>,
"Our freedom is one step closer to the freedom of our people and the
whole of Palestine," asserting that this freedom is due to the legendary
steadfastness of Gaza.</p>
<p>He added, "We bow before Gaza, which is a model for global liberation and to every Palestinian who belongs to it."</p>
<p>Reflecting on the situation of Palestinian prisoners and detainees in
Israeli prisons, al-Jaghoub said, "What is happening inside the prisons
is a full-fledged war crime comprising starvation, torture, assaults,
and medical neglect." He also pointed out that "the occupation prevents
any news from reaching the prisoners and keeps them completely isolated
from the outside world."</p>
<p>One of the released prisoners said that upon his release, "a Shin Bet
official told me, 'We are still here,' so I told him, ‘So are we.'"</p>
<p>The released prisoners and detainees stressed that they stand by the
Resistance, vowing that it will not be broken and that Gaza will
continue to stand strong against any aggression.</p>
<p>“It is either death or victory for us," they maintained, thanking the
al-Qassam Brigades, the al-Quds Brigades, and all the Resistance
factions who will remain <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/hamas-says-to-release-four-captured-israeli-soldiers">steadfast on the ground</a> and will eventually liberate all the prisoners and detainees.</p>
<p>The release of the Palestinian prisoners and detainees comes after <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/hamas-releases-4-israeli-soldiers-in-ceasefire-handover-to-r">Hamas released four female soldiers</a> and handed them over to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Palestine Square in Gaza City.</p>
<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/most-israelis-support-full-implementation-of-gaza-ceasefire">Most Israelis support full implementation of Gaza ceasefire deal</a></strong></p></div></div></div>
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