The final exchange of prisoners and hostages between Hamas and Israel was completed under a ceasefire agreement. Hamas handed over the lifeless bodies of 4 hostages to Israel, who simultaneously released over 600 Palestinian prisoners. The last exchange of the initial phase of the agreement could not take place due to Israel’s failure to release Palestinian prisoners.

Following the delivery of the bodies of the last 4 Israeli hostages expected in the first stage of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement in Gaza, Palestinian prisoners were also released. The Palestinian prisoners released from Ofer Military Prison in the occupied West Bank and Ketziot Prison in southern Israel were handed over to Red Cross teams. Before the convoy’s passage, the Israeli army raided the town of Bitunya in the occupied West Bank. The Red Cross convoy, which left Ofer Military Prison and arrived in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, was met with a large crowd in front of the famous Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish Museum in Ramallah. The completion of the delayed seventh round of the prisoner exchange has resulted in the release of all 33 Israeli hostages expected to be released on Tuesday, bringing the total number of freed Palestinians to 1776. In exchange for 6 Israeli hostages, 641 Palestinians were released.

An announcement from Hamas’s Prisoners Media Office stated that Israel would release 641 Palestinian prisoners, including 151 serving life and heavy sentences. Out of the 151 prisoners, 42 were to go to the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, 12 to Gaza, and 97 to be sent abroad. Additionally, it was reported that 490 Palestinian prisoners, including 45 women and children, captured after October 7, 2023 from the Gaza Strip, would be freed. The release of 620 of these Palestinian prisoners was delayed by Israel. Hamas had freed 6 Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip on February 22 as part of the seventh round of the prisoner exchange. Despite Hamas releasing the Israeli hostages, Israel had announced the suspension of releasing Palestinian prisoners. Hamas and Israel had declared that the crisis had been resolved following negotiations with mediators.

THE PRISONER EXCHANGE AGREEMENT BETWEEN HAMAS AND ISRAEL

The ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel came into effect on Sunday, January 19 at 12:15 GMT. As part of the agreement, on Monday, January 27, the Netzarim Corridor in the Gaza Strip was opened for the passage of Palestinians from south to north, and the Israeli army withdrew from the Netzarim Corridor on February 9. The Rafah Border Crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt was opened on February 1 for the evacuation of sick and injured individuals after 8 months of Israeli occupation. In the first six rounds of prisoner exchange, 1135 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons, as well as 19 Israelis and 5 Thais from Gaza, were released.