Israel releases Palestinian women and children prisoners under Hamas deal: Analysis

Israel has released 39 women and children prisoners after Hamas freed 13 civilian captives in exchange under a Qatar-mediated deal that includes a four-day truce in Gaza.

Hundreds of Palestinians had gathered in anticipation on Friday outside the Ofer prison, where Israel had transferred those who were to be released, while others congregated in Palestinian towns.

At 8pm local time (18:00 GMT), two International Committee of the Red Cross buses were seen leaving Ofer.

According to the AFP news agency, 28 prisoners were released in the occupied West Bank, and 11 others were brought to East Jerusalem, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club NGO.

Marah Bakeer, who was among those released in Jerusalem, says she was informed this morning that she was going to be leaving prison.

She told Al Jazeera police carried out a DNA test and told her she would not be allowed to celebrate upon being released.

“I’m a little nervous and stunned; I can’t believe I’m out,” she said.

“The years spent in jail were hard,” Bakeer said. “But I have a strong personality … and faith in God.” Her family’s ongoing support helped her overcome “difficult times” during eight years in detention, she added.

Feride Najeh, who was among the prisoners released in Beitunia, told Al Jazeera that she was “very happy” with the deal.

“We haven’t eaten anything since this morning,” Najeh, who was serving a three-year sentence, said. “They took us in a violent way and they did not let us take our stuff.”

“I am very happy with this deal. I would like to thank Gazan people for their resistance.”

Thirteen Israeli captives, including dual nationals, have been released under the Israel-Hamas deal.

At least 10 Thai nationals and one Filipino were released under a different framework, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, which mediated the separate deal.

The Red Cross has confirmed the release of the 24 civilian captives in Gaza.

Under the Israel-Hamas deal, a total of 150 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails and 50 civilian captives held by Hamas are to be released over a four-day period that will see a pause in fighting in Gaza.

Al Jazeera’s Charles Stratford, reporting from outside Ofer prison, said Israeli forces fired volleys of tear gas at the crowds who had gathered.

Among those gathered at the prison, one woman Al Jazeera spoke to said that she had come all the way from Tulkarem, a city near the boundary with Israel in the West.

On the way, she was “stopped at an Israeli military checkpoint, and heavily interrogated there,” Stratford said, “highlighting the difficulties that Palestinians face in terms of freedom of movement across the occupied territories.”

“Another father of a 17-year-old boy … said he was not going to be celebrating the release because so many thousands of people have been, in his words, ‘martyred’ in the buildup to this deal,” Stratford said, “so again highlighting the mixed emotions here.”

Approximately 8,000 Palestinians remain in Israeli jails, including 3,000 who were detained in the last seven weeks amid increasing Israeli raids across the West Bank.

Analysis:

Credibility of Sources: The article cites multiple sources, including AFP news agency, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club NGO, and Al Jazeera. The use of multiple sources helps to provide a more comprehensive view of the situation.

Presentation of Facts: The article presents the facts of the prisoner release and the exchange deal between Israel and Hamas. It provides details about the number of prisoners released, the locations they were brought to, and includes quotes from some of the released prisoners. The article also mentions the firing of tear gas by Israeli forces and the difficulties Palestinians face in terms of freedom of movement.

Potential Biases: The article does not exhibit any explicit biases, but it does primarily present the perspectives and experiences of the released prisoners and their families. It does not include any perspectives from the Israeli side or provide a broader analysis of the political context and motivations behind the exchange deal.

Overall Impact and Reliability: The article provides a factual account of the prisoner release and includes direct quotes from the released prisoners. However, the lack of broader analysis and perspectives from both sides of the conflict limits the overall impact and reliability of the article. Without a more comprehensive understanding of the political landscape and motivations of the parties involved, readers may not be able to fully grasp the significance and implications of the prisoner exchange deal.

Influence of Political Landscape and Fake News: In a politically charged conflict like the one between Israel and Hamas, the prevalent biases and fake news can significantly influence the public’s perception of the information. It is essential for readers to seek out a range of sources and critically evaluate the information presented to ensure a nuanced understanding of the topic.

Source: Aljazeera news: Israel releases Palestinian women and children prisoners under Hamas deal