 "Gaza celebrates as Israel frees 2,000 Palestinian prisoners")
At least 2,000 Palestinian prisoners have been freed from Israeli jails as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal, as families welcomed them in an emotional turn of events after Hamas released hostages on Monday.
Over 1,700 individuals released had been held in Gaza by Israeli forces without formal charges since the onset of the conflict sparked by the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023. Another 250 had been incarcerated for extended periods following convictions for major crimes, including murder. Some of those freed on Monday reported experiencing repeated physical abuse during their imprisonment in Israeli facilities.
As many as 96 of the long-term Palestinian prisoners were released into the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, while another 154 prisoners, who were convicted of violent crimes, were deported to Egypt. Some of the prisoners had been in jails for nearly two decades.
Who all have been released?
Among those released on Monday were members of various Palestinian groups, including Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Fatah, and others. However, Israel declined to release several high-profile detainees, notably Marwan Barghouti, a widely respected Fatah leader.
While it is not clear whether they were finally released or not, Israel was set to free Mahmoud Qawasmeh, a senior Hamas member arrested for the second time in 2024, and Muhammad Zakarneh, convicted of planning the killing of a taxi driver in 2009, under the current hostage-prisoner swap.
According to a prisoner list obtained by Al Jazeera previously, five children under the age of 18 were also slated to be released by Israel under the current deal. At least 1,718 Palestinians were forcefully disappeared by Israel over the past two years, as per the United Nations.
Were prisoners tortured?
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported that a number of prisoners released in Ramallah had been beaten by Israeli security personnel before being placed on buses.
PRCS spokesperson Hassan Silwadi stated that some of the individuals had sustained rib fractures and eye trauma. In response, the Israel Prison Service said it was not aware of the claims described, and told CNN that “to the best of our knowledge, no such incidents occurred under IPS responsibility.”
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“It was so difficult. No rational human can imagine what they would see in prison," Ahmad Awad, who was serving three life sentences for murder and was released by Israel yesterday, told CNN.
 "Pakistan & Afghanistan’s Taliban agree to 48-hour ceasefire")
 "Pakistan-Afghanistan announce 48-hr ceasefire: Who could bring conflict to a permanent end?")
 "'Arrangements at New Delhi World Para-Athletics Championships much better than Kobe and Paris': India's Ekta Bhyan")
 "Crypto kings or criminals? MIT-educated brothers stand trial over alleged $25 million crypto theft")
 "Pakistan & Afghanistan’s Taliban agree to 48-hour ceasefire")
 "Pakistan-Afghanistan announce 48-hr ceasefire: Who could bring conflict to a permanent end?")
 "'Arrangements at New Delhi World Para-Athletics Championships much better than Kobe and Paris': India's Ekta Bhyan")
 "Crypto kings or criminals? MIT-educated brothers stand trial over alleged $25 million crypto theft")
