Palestinians Celebrate Return of Freed Prisoners in Partial Exchange with Hamas
Videos circulating on social media captured scenes of celebration among Palestinians in Judea, Samaria, and eastern Jerusalem following the release of 39 Palestinian Prisoners considered terrorists by Israel. The release took place on Saturday night as part of a partial prisoner exchange with Hamas.
National Security Minister Attempts to Quell Celebrations
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir instructed the police to intervene and prevent celebratory gatherings, particularly in eastern Jerusalem. The directive came amidst concerns about the potential escalation of tensions.
Varied Affiliations of Released Palestinian Prisoners
The 39 Palestinian Prisoners, comprising women and minors, exhibit diverse affiliations. While some are not associated with specific terror groups, others have ties to Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
Prisoners meeting with friends and families. Img Credit: AlJazeera
Noteworthy Figure - Israa Jaabis, Surviving Would-Be Suicide Bomber
Among those released prisoners, Israa Jaabis gained attention for her attempted suicide bombing near Maale Adumim in 2015. Despite blowing up a car with gas cylinders, Jaabis survived, causing injury to a police officer. Her request for a nose job was previously denied by the Israeli Prisons Service in 2022.
Subheading 5: Defense Minister's Action Following Previous Celebrations
In January, Defense Minister Yoav Galant revoked travel permits for three Palestinian Authority officials who celebrated the release of long-serving prisoner Karim Younis. The move followed celebrations in 'Ara, south of Haifa, where Younis and his cousin, Maher, were involved in the killing of Cpl. Avraham Bromberg in 1980.
Subheading 6: Investigation Ordered Amidst Police Failure
The failure of the police to prevent the celebrations prompted National Security Minister Ben-Gvir to order an investigation into how the festivities were allowed to occur.
Subheading 7: Toll of Recent Hamas Attacks
A grim backdrop to the exchange is the recent toll of Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. The attacks resulted in at least 1,200 casualties, with 240 individuals taken as hostages back to Gaza. The Israeli authorities are still working to identify bodies and search for human remains as some individuals remain unaccounted for.
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