
On Saturday, Israel released 200 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for four female Israeli soldiers who had been held captive by Hamas since the October 7, 2023, attack.
This marked the second prisoner exchange under the fragile ceasefire deal brokered earlier this month, which paused the long war in Gaza. The deal includes provisions for the gradual release of dozens of Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and the allowing of humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza.
The 200 Palestinian prisoners released Saturday included 121 individuals serving life sentences, as well as 79 others serving long sentences. Among them, the youngest prisoner was only 15 years old, while the oldest was 69. Additionally, 70 of the released prisoners were deported, with Egypt temporarily hosting them for 48 hours before transferring them to Tunisia, Algeria, and Turkey, which have agreed to receive them.
The release sparked jubilant celebrations in Ramallah, where thousands of Palestinians gathered to welcome the return of the prisoners. Crowds cheered, waved flags, and flashed victory signs as buses carrying the freed detainees arrived. Many prisoners, appearing gaunt after their time in detention, were lifted onto shoulders in symbolic celebration.
Nearly every Palestinian has friends or relatives who have been detained by Israeli authorities at some point.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that displaced Palestinians in Gaza would not yet be allowed to return to the northern part of the territory as there is one hostage who should have been released today by Hamas and was not.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians remain displaced from northern Gaza, with many anticipating their return. The Rafah border crossing in southern Gaza is also expected to open soon to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Source: Tovima.com


Latest News

PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis Visits Santorini Amid Ongoing Seismic Activity
A top Greek seismologist, who is accompanying the prime minister, will identify locations for the installation of tide gauges, as there were none in the area.

Santorini’s Tourism in Jeopardy: Earthquakes Disrupt Cruise Arrivals
If seismic tremors persist for an extended period, there is a significant risk that the island could lose its Easter tourism season.

New Board of Directors for the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS)
The annual UGS general assembly and the election of a new board concluded on Thursday - Melina Travlos is expected to be re-elected as UGS president

Global Leaders Convene in Paris for Pivotal AI Summit
Circles close to the presidency of the French Republic, emphasize that the issue of developing artificial intelligence should not evolve into a battleground between the US and China highlighting the "awakening of Europe" regarding AI.

Greece Records 469 Suicides in 2024, Crete and Attica Most Affected
Report highlights alarming suicide trends in Greece, calls for improved mental health support and better reporting

Greek Consumer Group Calls for Market Boycott Over Price Hikes
Greece’s consumer federation is calling on citizens to avoid spending a single euro on Feb. 19 in protest to the rising prices of basic goods.

Govt Eyeing Solution for Swiss Franc-pegged Mortgages, Loans
Euro’s depreciation against the Swiss franc has caused tens of thousands of mortgagors and guarantors to despair after economic crises

Greece Gears Up for First Hydrocarbon Drilling in Crete in 2025
"It is possible that within the year, we will see the first exploratory drilling, most likely in the Crete region, which will give us an initial picture of potential hydrocarbon deposits," Sdoukou emphasized

ERGANI: Monthly Average Salary in Greece Up By 7.2% in 2024
In 2024, there were 312,000 more employees than in 2023, reflecting a 4.1% increase (2,390,157 workers compared to 2,296,845 in 2023)

Greek PM Appeals for Calm, Says Santorini Phenomenon ‘Complex’
The Greek government announced daily public briefings on Santorini quake activity to reassure citizens