Israel frees Palestinian prisoners after 3 captives released in Gaza
Israeli PM to hold talks with top officials
We’re getting reports that Netanyahu will hold consultations with senior Israeli officials at 7pm local time (17:00 GMT), the time when Trump’s ultimatum about the release of all the captives held in Gaza expires.
As per the terms of the US c-mediated deal agreed between Israel and Hamas last month, Palestinian groups released three captives earlier today in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
Jail conditions only deteriorated after start of Gaza war: Released prisoner
Mohammed el-Halabi, former head of World Vision in Gaza, who was arrested in 2016 by Israeli forces after being accused of supporting Hamas, returned to Gaza earlier this month after being released.
“I spent more than 8.5 years in prison. My case was a high-profile case and I was convicted with no evidence. I refused all their plea bargains and compromises, because they wanted to use me to undermine international assistance to Gaza,” he told Al Jazeera.
El-Halabi, who was physically weakened and lost much weight while incarcerated, said he was subjected to physical and psychological torture.
“I suffer from 40 percent deafening in one ear. The Israelis threatened to kill my children and target my family and my house,” he said.
Since the start of the war on Gaza, the situation changed drastically and prisoners became subject to daily torture, according to the released prisoner.
“Starvation happened every day, and we only had a low-quality meal once a day. I was 95kg [209 pounds] when I went to prison, and I weigh 45kg [100 pounds] now.”
‘It was a hell’ with brutal beatings: Freed Palestinian prisoner
Hazem Rajab, one of the Palestinian prisoners freed in the latest exchange, has told Al Jazeera outside the European Hospital in Gaza’s Khan Younis of the inhumane treatment he suffered since his arrest by Israeli forces in December 2023, two months after the war began.
“The Israelis told us to ‘Welcome to hell,’” Rajab recalled. “It was a hell,” he said.
“From the first day, we were beaten badly,” Rajab added. “The beatings were brutal, tough and unbearable,” he said, with family members standing by his side.
‘It was a hell’ with brutal beatings: Freed Palestinian prisoner
Hazem Rajab, one of the Palestinian prisoners freed in the latest exchange, has told Al Jazeera outside the European Hospital in Gaza’s Khan Younis of the inhumane treatment he suffered since his arrest by Israeli forces in December 2023, two months after the war began.
“The Israelis told us to ‘Welcome to hell,’” Rajab recalled. “It was a hell,” he said.
“From the first day, we were beaten badly,” Rajab added. “The beatings were brutal, tough and unbearable,” he said, with family members standing by his side.
Lebanon arrests over 25 after UN convoy attack
More than 25 people have been arrested by Lebanese army intelligence and another detained by security services in relation to Friday evening’s attack on the UN convoy, according to Lebanese Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar.
He told reporters after an emergency security meeting that this does not mean all those arrested directly participated in the attack, adding that investigations are ongoing to find those responsible.
Israeli army working to ‘bring captives back, preparing offensive plans’
Israeli army chief Herzi Halevi says it is his forces “duty to bring everyone back,” according to a statement posted on the military’s X account.
“We are investing in many efforts for this purpose, and at the same time, we are preparing offensive plans,” Halevi added.
Israeli army storms occupied West Bank homes of freed prisoners
Israeli forces have raided the city of el-Bireh in the occupied West Bank, raiding the home of a Palestinian prisoner released as part of today’s exchanges.
Local sources told the official Wafa news agency that Israeli military vehicles stormed the centre of el-Bireh to target the home of 45-year-old Mazen al-Qadi, in Israeli custody for more than two decades.
Since dawn, Israeli forces have similarly raided the homes of several other prisoners released today, according to reports.
Lebanese president vows punishment for attack on UN convoy
Joseph Aoun has denounced yesterday’s attack near Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport, which injured the outgoing deputy commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
“What happened last night on the airport road and in some areas of Beirut is unacceptable and condemned. Such actions cannot be allowed to recur,” he said on X.
Lebanon’s security forces “will not tolerate any party attempting to destabilise the country or threaten civil peace”.
‘This is a new birth for me,’ freed Palestinian prisoner says
A Palestinian prisoner released in Gaza has described his time in an Israeli jail as “very difficult”.
“We were tortured and we cannot find words to describe our situation during our time in prison,” he told Al Jazeera in Khan Younis, where he arrived after being freed.
“Diseases were all over the place, we had no medical care at all and people lost their lives due to diseases,” the man said.
The former prisoner said he had no words to express his happiness.
“This is a new birth for me,” he said.
