Israel frees more Palestinian prisoners after Hamas releases three more hostages

BeirutAfter a week in which the ceasefire in Gaza has been seen to be in jeopardy, Hamas has released on Saturday morning the three Israeli hostages that it announced yesterday it would release: Iair Horn, 46 years old; Alexander Trufanov, 29; and Sagui Dekel-Chem, 36. In this way, the Islamist group has avoided, for the moment, a resumption of the war, which Israel had threatened if Hamas did not continue with the agreed releases. Shortly afterwards, the government of Benjamin Netanyahu also began to release some of the 369 Palestinian prisoners agreed upon: 36 were sentenced to life imprisonment and the other 333 had been imprisoned without charge. This is the sixth exchange of captives that has taken place since the beginning of the ceasefire.

The released Israeli hostages appear to be in good health, at least apparently, according to images broadcast by the media. In contrast, the Palestinian Prisoners' Club has denounced that among the released prisoners there are people in extremely precarious health conditions, many with signs of mistreatment. In previous exchanges, some of the released Palestinians showed signs of torture, malnutrition and diseases contracted in prison.

The release of the Palestinian prisoners on Saturday was also marked by controversy. Before being transferred to Gaza and the West Bank, the Israeli Prison Service forced them to wear white sweatshirts with the Star of David, the logo of the Israeli prison authority and the following motto: "We will not forget nor forgive." Images of the prisoners in this clothing were broadcast by Israeli state media. However, upon their arrival in Gaza, many of the freed prisoners walked around the room before getting off the buses that took them to the European Hospital in Khan Younis. There, relatives and thousands of people greeted them with great joy. Many filmed the emotional reunion with their mobile phones. Others were taken to the city of Ramallah, in the West Bank, where a crowd waved flags and chanted slogans.

Hamas, for its part, has released three new hostages, as on other occasions: in a mass ceremony in the town of Khan Yunis, in the south of the Gaza Strip, where thousands of people and dozens of hooded Palestinian militiamen armed with rifles gathered on the live channel. But this time the gathering was not so chaotic.

The stage for the ceremony was set up in a devastated area of Gaza, just a few metres from the house where Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar lived, who was killed by Israeli forces in October last year. Posters with protest messages were placed behind it. One of them said "There will be no migration, except in Jerusalem", in reference to the statements of the US president, Donald Trump, who on 5 February said that the United States will take control of Gaza and move its population to neighbouring countries. In fact, after the liberation, Hamas issued a statement in which it insisted that the Palestinians will not leave the Strip and that there will be no other way to free the hostages who are still being held except through negotiations and following the requirements of the ceasefire agreement.

Also as on other occasions, the hostages made a short speech on stage. Specifically, they asked the Israeli government to maintain the truce in Gaza. Hamas militants then took the three men to vehicles of the International Committee of the Red Cross, which transported them to positions where Israeli forces are located in the Gaza Strip.

From Tel Aviv, Netanyahu's office said that Israel had welcomed the freed hostages with "a big hug" and that the government would work to rehabilitate them and their families. In the same statement, he reaffirmed his full coordination with the United States to "rescue all the hostages, both the living and the dead, as quickly as possible." He also warned that Israel is "fully prepared for whatever comes," in a clear sign that the truce might not last long.

The agreement signed for a six-week truce provides for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from strategic areas of Gaza and the return of displaced Palestinians to the north of the Strip. But the mistrust between the two parties is evident. Hamas threatened to suspend the release of hostages because of Israel's continued military incursions in the West Bank and Gaza, while Benjamin Netanyahu's government insists that it will not abandon its military offensive until all captives are freed.

For example, this Saturday, Israeli forces demolished at least 20 homes in the Jenin refugee camp, a bastion of Palestinian resistance in the West Bank. Military operations in this enclave have intensified since the start of the war, with air strikes that have left dozens dead and wounded. On the other hand, in Gaza at least 25 bodies were recovered from the rubble in the last 48 hours, according to the Ministry of Health. This brings the total number of Palestinian casualties to 48,264 dead and 111,688 wounded since the start of the Israeli offensive in October 2023.

Political and military chess game

The exchange of prisoners and hostages is a reflection of the complicated political and military chess game in the region. For Israel, the release of its captive citizens is a national priority, but at the same time it must face increasing internal pressure to resume the offensive and end the Hamas presence in Gaza. Netanyahu, whose government is wavering between ultra-nationalist factions and international pressure, has made it clear that he does not rule out resuming the war.

For Palestinians, the release of prisoners is not only a cause for celebration, but a reaffirmation of the fight for their cause. Many of those detained have been held in Israeli prisons for years without trial, while others are serving life sentences. In this context, each released prisoner is seen as a symbol of resistance to the occupation.

But beyond the joy or caution with which both sides view these exchanges, the truth is that the truce is fragile and the future of the conflict remains uncertain. The partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza could lead to new negotiations, but also to the regrouping of Hamas and a possible resumption of the war. For now, peace seems a distant promise.