DaysofPal- Israel has released 90 Palestinian prisoners in the first exchange under a ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
The freed individuals, including 69 women and 21 boys, returned to the occupied West Bank to joyous celebrations by their families, friends, and supporters. However, the celebrations are overshadowed by ongoing mass arrests in the region, leaving many Palestinians living under the constant threat of detention.
“Palestinian families are prepared to be arrested at any moment,” said 22-year-old Dania Hanatsheh, who was freed after her second detention as part of the exchange. “You feel helpless, like you can’t do anything to protect yourself.”
According to the Israeli legal group HaMoked, more than 10,000 Palestinians remain in Israeli jails, including detainees from Gaza and thousands arrested in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Many of these detainees are held under Israel’s controversial “administrative detention” policy, which allows imprisonment based on secret evidence without formal charges or trials.
The release of prisoners has not halted Israel’s mass arrest campaign. Just days after the exchange, Israeli forces detained 64 Palestinians, including children as young as seven, during a raid in eastern Qalqilya. Since October 7, 2023, over 14,300 Palestinians have been detained by the Israeli military in the West Bank alone.
Tensions remain high as Israeli authorities signal plans for further military operations in the West Bank, particularly in areas like the Jenin refugee camp. The ongoing arrests have created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, leaving many Palestinians bracing for the possibility of detention at any time.
While the recent prisoner release brought brief moments of relief and celebration, the broader crisis of mass arrests continues to dominate life in the occupied Palestinian territories.
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