Well-known Palestinian prisoners set to be released by Israel in 1st phase of Gaza ceasefire deal

Ahram Online , Sunday 19 Jan 2025

As the long-awaited ceasefire has finally started in Gaza, media reports have circulated the names of some Palestinian prisoners expected to be released from Israeli prisons during the first phase of the agreement in exchange for 33 Israeli captives.

GAZA
File photo: People protest in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah in support of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. AFP

 

Egypt revealed on Saturday that Israel will release over 1,890 Palestinian prisoners as part of the Gaza deal's first phase.

The 42-day first phase will see Hamas releasing 33 Israeli captives in exchange for over 1,890 Palestinian prisoners, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Earlier, the Israeli Ministry of Justice published a list of 735 Palestinian prisoners who will be released from Israeli prisons during the first stage of the deal.

According to the Palestinian Authority's Prisoners and Freed Prisoners Affairs Commission, the first phase will witness the release of 296 Palestinian detainees who have been sentenced to life imprisonment. 

The prisoners come from various Palestinian factions and include 70 women and nine children.

Below is a brief overview of some of the most prominent Palestinian prisoners expected to be released in the first phase. 

Ahmad Barghouthi
 

Ahmad Barghouti, known as "the French," was the leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the military wing of the Fatah movement, in the Ramallah area.

He was arrested in 2002 and sentenced to 13 life terms for his involvement in planning and carrying out numerous armed operations against the Israeli occupation.

Barghouthi is described as the "right-hand man" of the imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouthi.

Ashraf Zaghir
 

Ashraf Zaghir, 48, hails from a town in northern Jerusalem. He was arrested in October 2002.

Zaghir is accused of assisting in an attack in Tel Aviv in September 2002. An Israeli court sentenced him to six life sentences.

During his detention, Zaghir held several leadership positions within Hamas in prison.

Khalida Jarrar
 

Lawyer Khalida Jarrar, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council who represents the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, is among the prominent names on the list, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Jarrar is a political activist and a prominent woman figure in the Palestinian society.

She played an important role in the Palestinian Authority's legal battle against Israel at the International Criminal Court.

Wael Qassem and Wissam Abbasi (Silwan cell)
 

Wael Qassem, Wissam Abbasi, and Mohammad Awda are from Silwansouth of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem.

They are leaders of the Silwan cell affiliated with Hamas.

The cell is accused of being responsible for a series of operations that led to the deaths and injuries of dozens of Israelis.

The members of the cell were arrested in August 2002, and an Israeli military court convicted them of belonging to the Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades and carrying out several attacks.

Qassem was sentenced to 35 life terms and 50 years in prison, the highest sentence in Jerusalem, while Abbasi received 26 life sentences and 40 years.

Abla Saadat
 

Abla Saadat is the wife of Ahmed Saadat, the secretary-general of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

According to reports, Saadat was involved in planning the assassination of Israeli Minister Rehavam Ze'evi. She has been imprisoned since 2006.

Prisoners Israel refuses to release
 

Kan Israeli Channel reported that high-profile prisoners like Marwan Barghouthi, Abbas Al-Sayed, Ahmad Saadat, and Abdullah Barghouthi are not to be released in the first phase. However, Hamas insists on their release during the second and third phases.

Negotiations about releasing these prisoners have been deferred to the second phase.

Marwan Barghouthi
 

According to reports, Marwan Barghouthi, a prominent leader in the Fatah movement, is one of the key figures Israel refuses to release.

He has been imprisoned since 2002 and is accused by Israel of being the "mastermind" behind the second Intifada, which broke out in 2000.

Abdullah Barghouthi
 

According to Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel continues to refuse the release of Abdullah Barghouthi, who was sentenced to 67 life terms.

Israeli security circles refer to him as the "second Sinwar" and accuse him of being responsible for the deaths of dozens of Israelis during the second Intifada.

Ahmad Saadat
 

Israel also refuses to release Ahmad Saadat, the former secretary-general of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

According to Israeli accusations, Saadat is the "mastermind" behind the assassination of Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze'evi in 2001.

Saadat was arrested in 2006, and Israel also refused to release him as part of the 2011 prisoner exchange deal known as the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit deal.

Abbas Al-Sayed
 

Abbas Al-Sayed was the leader of Hamas in the city of Tulkarm during the second Palestinian Intifada.

He was sentenced to 35 life terms and accused by Israel of planning the attack on the Park Hotel in Netanya.

 

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