Truce Deal: 30 Palestinians Freed, 12 Israelis Released

The Israel Prison Service (IPS) Tuesday night confirmed that 30 Palestinians have been released under the truce deal between it and Palestine militants, Hamas.

The IPS stated all the prisoners were released from the Ofer prison in the West Bank and the Jerusalem Detention Center and they included 30 men and women.

Qatar had earlier said the 30 included 15 women and 15 minors.

They join the 150 other Palestinians – mostly women and teenage boys – who have so far been released from Israeli jails since Friday as part of the truce.

They were chosen from an original list of 300 Palestinians compiled by Israel, accused of a range of offences, from throwing stones to incitement to attempted murder. Less than a quarter of those on the list had been convicted – the vast majority were being held on remand while awaiting trial.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said 12 more hostages released by Hamas have left Gaza and are now in the nation’s territory.

The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the group comprise ten Israeli citizens and two Thais.

It is the fifth day of the truce between Israel and Hamas, after a 48-hour extension was agreed on Monday.

The United Nations has used the pause in fighting to get desperately-needed aid into Gaza, but said much more is needed.

Hamas crossed the border and killed 1,200 people in Israel on  October 7 with about 240 taken hostage.

Since then, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry said more than 14,500 people have been killed in Israel’s retaliatory attacks.