Israel has freed 200 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for four female Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. The release sparked celebrations in the West Bank, with crowds cheering and fireworks lighting up the night.
Of those freed, 121 had been serving life sentences, including for multiple murders of Israeli civilians. Around 70 were deported to countries like Qatar and Turkey, while the rest returned to the West Bank, East Jerusalem, or Gaza.
The swap was the second since a ceasefire began on 19 January, following a war that started with Hamas’ attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. Over 47,200 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military response, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.
