110 Palestinian prisoners released in Gaza deal
Published: 05:01 PM,Jan 30,2025 | EDITED : 09:01 PM,Jan 30,2025
Zakaria Zubeidi, a former high-profile commander, gestures while in a vehicle, near Ramallah in the Israeli occupied West Bank, on Thursday. - Reuters
RAMALLAH: Two buses carrying Palestinian prisoners released by Israel reached Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, their arrival cheered by hundreds of waiting Palestinians, an AFP correspondent reported.
Israel's Prison Service meanwhile confirmed it had freed 110 prisoners on Thursday as part the agreement with Hamas for a truce in Gaza which came into effect on January 19.
Zakaria Zubeidi, a former leader of the Palestinian group, was among those released on Thursday as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
Zubeidi, 49, is one of the most high-profile of 110 prisoners, including 30 minors, freed in exchange for three Israelis, the Palestinian Prisoners' Club advocacy group said.
Zubeidi rose to prominence during the Second Intifada, a Palestinian uprising in the early 2000s, becoming one of the best-known leaders in Jenin and its refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.
It was during the uprising that Zubeidi's mother was shot and killed when the Israeli army raided the camp.
Zubeidi became active with Fatah party after a stint in prison in 1989 at age 14.
Meanwhile, the EU said will hold separate talks with Israel and the Palestinian Authority in the coming weeks, the European Commission said on Thursday, as a ceasefire in Gaza continued to hold.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar is expected to meet with his counterparts from the EU's 27 nations and the bloc's top diplomat Kaja Kallas in Brussels on February 24, the commission said.
'We will discuss the full range of issues with Israel, including the war in Gaza, regional issues, global issues and bilateral EU-Israel relations,' said commission spokesman Anouar El Anouni.
The gathering will take place on the sidelines of the EU's foreign affairs council.
Similarly, Kallas will co-chair with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa 'the first ever EU Palestinian high level dialogue' on the margins of the following foreign affairs council -- a meeting of EU top diplomats -- on March 17. 'This will be an opportunity to discuss the EU support for the Palestinians and the full range of regional and also bilateral issues,' El Anouni said.
Israel's Prison Service meanwhile confirmed it had freed 110 prisoners on Thursday as part the agreement with Hamas for a truce in Gaza which came into effect on January 19.
Zakaria Zubeidi, a former leader of the Palestinian group, was among those released on Thursday as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
Zubeidi, 49, is one of the most high-profile of 110 prisoners, including 30 minors, freed in exchange for three Israelis, the Palestinian Prisoners' Club advocacy group said.
Zubeidi rose to prominence during the Second Intifada, a Palestinian uprising in the early 2000s, becoming one of the best-known leaders in Jenin and its refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.
It was during the uprising that Zubeidi's mother was shot and killed when the Israeli army raided the camp.
Zubeidi became active with Fatah party after a stint in prison in 1989 at age 14.
Meanwhile, the EU said will hold separate talks with Israel and the Palestinian Authority in the coming weeks, the European Commission said on Thursday, as a ceasefire in Gaza continued to hold.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar is expected to meet with his counterparts from the EU's 27 nations and the bloc's top diplomat Kaja Kallas in Brussels on February 24, the commission said.
'We will discuss the full range of issues with Israel, including the war in Gaza, regional issues, global issues and bilateral EU-Israel relations,' said commission spokesman Anouar El Anouni.
The gathering will take place on the sidelines of the EU's foreign affairs council.
Similarly, Kallas will co-chair with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa 'the first ever EU Palestinian high level dialogue' on the margins of the following foreign affairs council -- a meeting of EU top diplomats -- on March 17. 'This will be an opportunity to discuss the EU support for the Palestinians and the full range of regional and also bilateral issues,' El Anouni said.