Media reported on Israel's decision to release more than 600 Palestinian hostages
Israel will release 602 Palestinian prisoners, including 50 sentenced to life imprisonment, the Palestinian Safa news agency reported on February 21.
"After the Palestinian resistance handed over the names of Israeli prisoners, tomorrow, Saturday (Feb. 22. - Ed.), as part of the first phase of the swap deal, will be released tomorrow, Saturday (Feb. 22. - Ed.): 50 prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment, 60 prisoners with long sentences," the agency's Telegram channel said.
It is also specified that 445 prisoners from the Gaza Strip, who were arrested after the events of October 7, 2023, will be released.
Prior to that, on February 15, Dmitry Gendelman, an adviser to the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, said that 73 Israeli citizens are still being held hostage in the Gaza Strip. Gendelman also noted that 19 hostages, including five soldiers, were released as part of the first phase of the agreement. Israel is awaiting the return of another 14, he said.
On Jan. 19, the first phase of the cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement went into effect. During this phase of the deal, which will last 42 days, 33 Israeli hostages and about 1,900 Palestinians are to be released. On the same day, the movement released three people in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners. After that, several more rounds of exchanges took place. Thus, on February 15, Hamas representatives handed over three hostages, including Russian Alexander Trufanov, to the Red Cross.
The situation in the Middle East escalated in the morning of October 7, 2023, when Hamas subjected the territory of Israel to a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes.
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