Israeli authorities have released 643 Palestinian prisoners, identified as terrorists, as part of the ceasefire agreement, the Israeli Prison Service confirmed on Thursday.
Since January 19, Israel has freed 1,778 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 33 hostages.
End of First Phase of Ceasefire
The latest exchange, completed on Wednesday night, marks the end of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement. However, the fate of the remaining 59 hostages is still uncertain and will be determined through further negotiations.
Critics argue that this phased approach could result in prolonged captivity for the remaining hostages and may undermine Israel’s war efforts.
Background on October 7 Attacks
On October 7, Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israeli communities near the Gaza border, killing at least 1,200 people and taking 252 hostages, including Israelis and foreign nationals.
Among the 59 remaining hostages, 32 are believed to be dead.