Those released during exchange for hostages include 121 serving life sentences for terror attacks that killed dozens; 70 of the released are exiled to Egypt The post Crowds in Ramallah celebrate as Israel frees 200 Palestinian prisoners appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Israel released 200 Palestinian prisoners, 120 of them serving life sentences, from its jails as part of a ceasefire deal. They ranged in age from 16 to 67. Some were set free into an exuberant West Bank, while those whose offenses were considered too serious were transferred to Egypt.

Gaza’s Palestinian Civil Defence agency says it has pulled 137 bodies of those killed in Israeli attacks from under rubble since the start of the ceasefire in Rafah alone. An estimated 10,000 bodies are buried under the concrete wasteland in Gaza.

The 90 Palestinian prisoners that were in Israeli custody have been released, an Israeli prison service spokesperson said in a statement early Monday morning local time – about 80 minutes past the conclusion of Day 1 of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage exchange deal.

In a statement, Netanyahu’s office accused the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority ... “Nobody passes through it (Rafah crossing) without supervision and approval from the Israeli army ...

As Israeli forces withdrew from areas in Gaza's Rafah to the Philadelphi Corridor ... of family members and friends in Beitunia, outside Ramallah, in the early hours of Jan. 20, 2025.

In return for the four soldiers, Israel freed 200 Palestinian prisoners or detainees, including 120 militants serving life sentences after being convicted of deadly attacks. The first exchange took place Sunday with the release of three Israeli hostages and 90 Palestinian prisoners.

“It took us a few minutes to accept that this pile of rubble was our home,” said Islam Dahliz, whose family was ordered by Israeli forces to evacuate Rafah in May. By Vivian Yee and Bilal ...

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Wednesday that Israel will remain in control of the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt throughout the first phase of the ...

Repairs are underway on the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing, with plans for its reopening within days to facilitate increased aid deliveries to Gaza, a senior Egyptian official said ...

Israel has confirmed that it will maintain control over the Rafah border crossing, the key passage between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, throughout the first phase of the nation's ceasefire deal with ...

A ceasefire in the Gaza Strip took effect on Sunday as Hamas released the first three female hostages it held for 15 months of the devastating war with Israel.