Israel releases full list of 300 Palestinian prisoners to be freed in truce

22 November 2023 , 08:03

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Israel releases full list of 300 Palestinian prisoners to be freed in truce

A list of Palestinian prisoners set to be freed from Israel under a new deal agreed with Hamas has been released.

The long list, published by the Israeli justice ministry, includes the names of 300 prisoners. Hamas has agreed to release 150 captive Israeli women and children in exchange. There will also be a four-day pause to the devastating bombardment of Gaza while the hostages are released. The truce is the biggest diplomatic breakthrough since Hamas militants stormed Israel at the start of October, igniting a war in Gaza like never seen before. A record number of journalists and aid workers are among the more than 10,000 dead in the besieged enclave. In addition to Israeli civilians being released from Gaza, more than half the hostages hold foreign and dual citizenship from some 40 countries including the UK, the US, France, Argentina, Germany, Chile, Spain and Portugal, the Israeli government has said.

Families and supporters of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza demanding the release of loved ones (Getty Images)

Fifty hostages will be released in stages, in exchange for what Hamas said would be 150 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Both sides will release women and children first, and the supply of humanitarian aid flowing into the besieged territory will be ramped up, officials said. The lull will be extended by an additional day for every 10 hostages released. Sky News Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall says there is now a 24-hour period where Israelis could object to any of the Palestinian prisoners being released. He writes: "If they do disagree, they must take their arguments to Israel's supreme court."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would resume the war after the truce and keep fighting “until we achieve all our goals,” including the defeat of Hamas. Residents in Gaza City said the fighting there had intensified overnight into Wednesday, with gunfire, heavy artillery and airstrikes in central neighbourhoods. Nasser al-Sheikh, who is sheltering with relatives in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood, told the Associated Press: "They are mad. Apparently, they want to advance before the truce."

The list of 300 Palestinians includes about 60 female prisoners, most of whom were arrested in the last two years. The charges against them range from harming the security of the region, infiltrating into Israel without a permit, throwing stones, possessing weapons and causing damage. Most are aged 17 or 18, with an overall age range of 14-59. The majority of the detainees - 274 of 300 - are male. Israel is the only country that systematically prosecutes minors in military courts, which often accept confessions obtained by coercion. An estimated 500-700 children, some as young as 12, are tried in military courts every year, the most common charge being stone-throwing, which carries a 20-year prison sentence.

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Smoke billowing during an Israeli bombardment on the northern Palestinian territory (AFP via Getty Images)

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said the truce between Israel and Hamas was a "crucial step" towards releasing hostages and providing humanitarian relief in Gaza. Lord Cameron said: "This agreement is a crucial step towards providing relief to the families of the hostages and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. I urge all parties to ensure the agreement is delivered in full. Of course, we want to see all hostages released immediately and families affected by the horrors of the October 7 terror attack reunited.

"This pause provides an important opportunity to ensure much greater volumes of food, fuel and other life-saving aid can reach Gaza on a sustained basis. We have already doubled our aid commitment to Palestinians this year and will work closely with the UN to ensure it reaches those who need it. The UK will continue to work with all partners in the region to secure the release of all hostages, restore security and reach a long-term political solution which enables both Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace."

Rachel Hagan