Israel will release more than 1,800 Palestinian prisoners as part of the first phase of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, Egypt announced on Friday. The deal will also secure the release of 33 Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
Among those slated for release is Zakaria Zubeidi, a prominent Palestinian figure and former leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade in Jenin. The 49-year-old, raised in a refugee camp, has been imprisoned for charges including intentional killings, attempted murder, and planting explosives. Zubeidi was also one of six Palestinian prisoners who escaped from an Israeli jail in 2021 by digging a tunnel but was recaptured five days later.
Zubeidi is regarded as a symbol of resistance by many Palestinians, known for establishing the Freedom Theatre and Cinema in Jenin. His involvement in a 2002 gun attack in Beit She’an, where six Israelis were killed, has also been a significant part of his controversial legacy.
Egypt, a key mediator in the talks, confirmed the numbers in a statement, clarifying earlier conflicting reports about the prisoner release. Initially, reports suggested 734 detainees were slated for release, but the figure has now been updated to 1,890. This total may include Gazans detained by Israeli Defense Forces, not just prisoners held under Israel’s justice system.
The first phase of the ceasefire will last six weeks, during which 33 Israeli hostages captured by Hamas will also be freed. While the exchange ratio for hostages to prisoners remains unclear, earlier agreements involved a one-to-three exchange rate. The exact sequence of prisoner releases has not been disclosed.
Negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire, which would include the release of additional hostages and prisoners, are expected to start after the first stage is completed.
Egypt’s foreign ministry emphasized its continued commitment to mediating between Israel and Hamas to ensure the implementation of the ceasefire agreement. The North African nation has played a significant role in facilitating negotiations during the ongoing conflict, which has seen escalated tensions and violence since October 2023. The agreement follows a previous temporary truce in November, during which prisoners were exchanged for hostages under similar conditions. This latest development aims to provide a framework
