Israel released 15 women and 15 children held in Israeli prisons after midnight, following the release by the Islamist group Hamas of 16 hostages held in Gaza.on the sixth day of the agreement to exchange hostages for prisoners, in parallel with a temporary ceasefire.
The Israel Prison Service confirmed the release of 30 Palestinian prisoners released from Ofer Prison, Jerusalem Detention Center, Ayalon Prison and Damon Prison.
“The Prison Service is rounding up the sixth round of detainees as part of the operation to return the abductees to their homes‘, a spokesperson for the organization said in a statement.
The agency “will continue with the plan as necessary” and “is working in full cooperation with all security forces to conduct the operation professionally,” he added.
Since last Friday, 210 Palestinian prisoners have been released, all of them women and childrenas part of the exchange pact for Israeli hostages held captive in Gaza by Palestinian militias.
A total of 97 prisoners have already been released in Gaza, including 73 Israelis and 24 foreigners, a key element of the temporary ceasefire that lasted six days and that Qatar, the main mediator between Israel and Hamas, wants to extend for more. days, along with the support of Egypt and the United States.
Today, Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Israel, where he will give a speech possible extension of the ceasefire to secure the release of more hostages still in Gaza.
It is believed there are still around 145 prisoners in the Strip, and the proposal for an extension of the ceasefire would see the additional daily release of an additional 10 people. In the meantime, the ceasefire would continue for several more days.
According to the State Department, Blinken has “will discuss Israel’s right to defend itself”, and “continued efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages, protect the lives of civilians during Israeli operations in Gaza and accelerate humanitarian assistance to civilians” in the Gaza Strip.
It is not clear what the official end deadline is for the ceasefire that began last Friday, as no formal time has been announced. (JO)
Source: Eluniverso
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