Israel is expected to release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners during the first phase of the ceasefire and hostage release agreement, which is expected to come into force this Sunday (19).
The ceasefire agreement has three phases, with the first expected to last six weeks and see the release of 33 Israeli hostages. Foreign hostages, including Americans, are also expected to be released, a source familiar with the deal told CNN on Friday (17).
The Israeli government approved the agreement after deliberating for more than seven hours on Friday until the early hours of Saturday morning (18), local time.
As part of the resolution, the government said on Friday it had approved the release of 737 Palestinian prisoners, as well as 1,167 Gazans it arrested during its offensive on the territory.
The Gaza-based Prisoners’ Press Office, however, said in a statement Saturday that Israel will release 1,737 prisoners, including 120 women and children. Nearly 300 Palestinians serving life sentences will also be among those released, according to the organization.
It is unclear why the two sides issued different numbers. THE CNN contacted both to clarify.
Understand the conflict in the Gaza Strip
Israel has carried out intense airstrikes in the Gaza Strip since 2023, after Hamas invaded the country and killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli counts. Furthermore, the radical group holds dozens of hostages.
Hamas does not recognize Israel as a state and claims Israeli territory for Palestine.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly promised to destroy Hamas’ military capabilities and recover people detained in Gaza.
In addition to the air offensive, the Israeli Army carries out land incursions into Palestinian territory. This caused much of Gaza’s population to be displaced.
The UN and several humanitarian institutions have warned of a catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, with a lack of food, medicine and the spread of diseases.
This content was originally published in Israel must release almost 2,000 prisoners in the 1st phase of the agreement on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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