In a significant move early on Monday, Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners from Ofer Prison, situated west of Ramallah in the West Bank. This release came just hours after three Israeli hostages made their way back home following their liberation from Hamas captivity in Gaza.
Eyewitnesses and local Palestinian sources reported that several buses departed Ofer Prison at 1 a.m., once the verification of the prisoner list was successfully completed.
The Hamas-affiliated Prisoners' Media Office confirmed that the release process commenced after both parties reached an agreement on the lists.
A statement revealed that buses from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) transported the prisoners, including both men and women, to areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority.
Hundreds of Palestinians, alongside the prisoners' families, gathered near the prison to welcome their loved ones back home. However, the scene was not without tension, as Israeli forces used tear gas to disperse the crowd after reports of assaults on journalists and Palestinian citizens.
Among those set free are women from East Jerusalem and minors under the age of 18.
This release is a part of a broader Gaza ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that came into effect on Sunday.
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