Entrance to Ofer Prison. (IPS) (IPS)
Ofer Prison

Jerusalem had ordered their release held up ‘until the safe exit of our hostages during the next waves is guaranteed.’

By TPS and JNS

The Israel Prison Service reported that it has concluded the third phase of the release of terrorists who, as part of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, were released in exchange for eight hostages who were released on Thursday – three Israeli and five Thai workers.

In total, 110 terrorists were transferred from a number of prison facilities throughout Israel.

Once the confirmation was given by the political authorities, all the terrorists were released and sent to the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza.

Earlier on Thursday, Jerusalem delayed the release of the terrorists after “horrifying scenes” were witnessed during the release of Israeli hostages Arbel Yehud and Gadi Mozes.

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with Defense Minister Israel Katz, has instructed a delay in the release of the terrorists scheduled to be released today until the safe exit of our hostages during the next waves is guaranteed,” the Prime Minister’s Office’s statement continued.

Jerusalem “demands that the mediators work to achieve this,” the PMO added, referring to Qatar and Egypt, who helped negotiate the deal.

A security source told Israel’s Ynet outlet that the political echelon gave the order to halt the 110 prisoners’ release minutes after they had left Ofer Prison near Ramallah, forcing the bus convoy to turn around.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (Religious Zionism Party) hailed Netanyahu’s decision, calling on the premier to “prevent the release of terrorists from Israeli prisons at least until guarantees are received that the harsh and humiliating images from Gaza and the abuse of our hostages right before their return doesn’t happen again.”

Earlier, Netanyahu’s office said that Israel had appealed to Doha and Cairo following the “horrific scenes” of civilian hostages Yehud and Mozes being publicly taunted by their captors and a mob of thousands of Palestinian Arabs as they were transferred to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip.

“This is further proof of the unimaginable cruelty of the Hamas terrorist organization,” Netanyahu’s office stated, demanding that Doha and Cairo work to “guarantee the safety of our hostages.”

Following Netanyahu’s demand, the mediators late Thursday afternoon committed to providing safe passage out of Gaza for the hostages set to be freed in the coming days and weeks.

“Israel insists that lessons will be learned and that in the next rounds, there will be extra care in ensuring the safe return of our hostages,” according to a PMO statement.

Among the terrorists scheduled to be released on Thursday were Zakaria Zubeidi, Mohammad Abu Warda and Sami Jaradat, according to Israel’s Channel 12 News broadcaster.

Zubeidi led Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in the Samaria city of Jenin and briefly escaped from Israel’s high-security Gilboa Prison in 2021.

Since Zubeidi was not convicted of murder but of other terrorism offenses, he will not be deported and is expected to be released back to Samaria.

Abu Warda and Jaradat were responsible for terrorist attacks that combined killed 66 Israelis in the late ’90s and early 2000s. Both men are scheduled to be deported and banned from returning to Israeli territory.

Keep Israeli Soldiers Warm - Send Winter Jackets!

We are honored to thank the young men and women of the IDF who risk their lives every day to defend the citizens of Israel.

Join us in sending winter care packages and personal notes of support to Israeli soldiers who are out in the cold all day.

Warm up a soldier's heart with essential winter wear including fleece jackets, hats, gloves and more. Keep an entire unit warm!

THE SOLDIERS REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR LOVE AND CONCERN!

SEND YOUR JACKET AND PERSONAL NOTE TO ISRAELI SOLDIERS!