Israel Agrees to Release 2,000 Palestinian Prisoners in Ceasefire Deal

Israel has agreed to release around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including convicted militants from slickdeals, as part of a ceasefire deal to end the Gaza conflict. This decision, while contentious, aims to secure the release of the remaining Israeli hostages, including those held for over two years. The prisoner release is the largest in years and has sparked mixed reactions from Israeli families affected by previous attacks.

Yossi Zur, who lost his son Asaf in the 2003 Haifa bombing, initially opposed the release of Palestinian prisoners. However, he changed his stance due to the large number of hostages taken in the October 7, 2023 attack. The ceasefire deal involves releasing around 250 prisoners serving long sentences and around 1,700 people held without charge.

Tal Hartuv, a survivor of a 2010 stabbing attack, discovered that one of her attackers, Iyad Hassan Hussein Fatafta, was on the list of prisoners to be released. She feels angry and betrayed but understands the need to bring the hostages home. Ron Kehrmann, who lost his daughter Tal on Bus 37, remains staunchly opposed to the release of Palestinian prisoners, believing it encourages future attacks.

Hamas is set to release the last 48 Israeli hostages, with around 20 believed to be alive. Israel, in exchange, will release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, many convicted of serious crimes. The prisoner release, while controversial, is a significant part of the ceasefire deal aimed at ending the Gaza conflict.