After tense week, Hamas and Israel keep a truce and exchange prisoners

After days of uncertainty and threats of breach of the truce, Israel and Hamas concluded on Saturday (15) the sixth exchange of prisoners since the beginning of the ceasefire in Gaza, on January 19. The agreement, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, resulted in the release of 369 Palestinians detained in Israeli arrests and three Israeli hostages that were in Hamas’s custody.

The release of the Palestinian prisoners was held throughout the morning of Saturday, with buses transporting the detainees to different locations, including the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Among those released are people who were trapped without judgment or conviction, as well as militants and political activists. Many arrived weakened, requiring immediate medical care, which generated protests against the conditions of Israeli prisons.

In the city of Ramallah, crowds gathered to receive the released, while Palestinian authorities reiterated the need for a permanent ceasefire and the end of arbitrary arrests.

RAMALLAH: Palestinian prisoners have been released from Israeli jails.

At least 4 have been taken straight to the hospital due to poor health because of conditions in Israeli prisons.

A total of 369 Palestinian detainees are set to be released. pic.twitter.com/jNdFv3sERa

– Hamdah salhut (@hamdahsalhut) February 15, 2025

On the other hand, the three Israeli hostages released by Hamas were delivered to the Red Cross in Khan Youis and transported to Israel. Among them were Sagui Dekel-chun, American-Israeli citizen, Alexandre Sasha Troufanov, Russian-Israeli, and Iair Horn, Israeli-Argentine.

Liberation occurs amid increasing tensions within Israel, where sectors of society require the return of more than 70 hostages that still remain under Hamas’ power.

Trump presses Netanyahu for the resumption of fighting

Prior to the release of prisoners, US President Donald Trump again pressured Israel to resume attacks against Gaza. This Friday (14), saying that he would not know if the deal would stand the next day, the far right leader stated that in place of Israel, he would take a tough posture if all Israelis were not released.

“I don’t know what will happen tomorrow at 12 noon. If I depended on me, I would take a very tough position. I can’t say what Israel will do, ”Trump told reporters inside the Oval Hall.

During the week, Trump stated that he would support the suspension of the agreement and allow “hell to settle” on Palestinian territory. Hamas responded by stating that the US President’s threats would not have an impact on his decisions and stressed that any new phase of the agreement would depend on the progressive withdrawal of Israeli troops.

Trump’s posture has fueled divisions within the Israeli government. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is balanced between the continuity of the truce and internal political pressures, sectors of the far right, such as former minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, defend the immediate breakup of ceasefire and the resumption of attacks.

Conditions of Palestinian prisoners and the humanitarian crisis

Before being released, Palestinian prisoners were forced by the Israeli authorities to wear T -shirts with the star of David and the phrase in Arabic: “We will not forget or forgive.” The measure, widely seen as an act of public humiliation, reinforces the punitive and vindictive character of the Israeli occupation about the Palestinians, even in times of apparent concession.

Pictures released showed prisoners in degrading positions, highlighting the sadism of Israeli prison authorities. Many of the detainees had already reported torture, beating, and extreme deprivation within Israeli arrests, and their liberation was accompanied by another symbolic gesture of domination and revanchism.

Circulated footage shows dozens of Palestinian detainees dressed in shirts bearing the Star of David and the slogan “We will never forget, we will never forgive” before being released from Ofer Prison as part of the sixth batch of the prisoner exchange deal between Israel and the… pic.twitter.com/Po5mXWZQAg

— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) February 15, 2025

The liberation of the 369 Palestinians brought to light complaints about the conditions of imprisonment in Israeli prisons. Many of the detainees were arrested without formal accusation, in a system of “administrative detention” that allows Israel to keep Palestinians imprisoned indefinitely without judgment. Reports point to abuse, malnutrition and lack of adequate medical assistance in prisons.

Among those released, Ahmed Barghouti, former member of Palestinian resistance and ally of Marwan Barghouti, considered one of Palestine’s most influential political leaders. Human rights organizations warn that the situation of Palestinian prisoners reflects a systematic pattern of repression and criminalization of the Palestinian struggle.

Israeli far right presses for new offensive

While the change of prisoners advances, leaders of the Israeli far right continue to press Netanyahu for the end of the truce. Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, an Atul Finance Minister of Israel, key figures of the governing coalition, argue that Palestinians’ release strengthens Hamas and weakens Israel. The fear of these sectors is that the truce can extend and pave the way for broader negotiations, including territorial concessions.

In Tel Aviv, nationalist groups conducted protests demanding a harder military response against Gaza. At the same time, hostage relatives still kept in captivity ask Netanyahu to priorit new negotiations to ensure the total release of the kidnapped.

The current phase of ceasefire is valid until March 1, and the parties have already indicated that new trading rounds will be needed to advance the return of hostages and prisoners. However, with the escalation of political pressures and the unpredictability of the government of Israel, the future of the agreement remains uncertain.