RAMALLAH, West Bank — On Saturday, Israel released 183 Palestinian detainees in connection with an ongoing exchange for Israeli hostages being held in Gaza. This move is part of a ceasefire that has temporarily halted the conflict, although its sustainability remains in question.
The Israeli government categorizes these prisoners as terrorists, while many Palestinians regard them as freedom fighters engaged in the struggle against a prolonged military occupation. It is common for Palestinians to have a friend or family member who has faced imprisonment by Israel at some point, often arrested for actions ranging from militant activities to minor offenses such as throwing stones at soldiers or participating in protests or banned political groups. Numerous detainees face long periods of confinement without trial due to administrative detention, a measure that Israel defends as essential for preventing attacks and protecting sensitive intelligence.
Among the released individuals were 18 who had received life sentences and 54 others serving lengthy terms for their involvement in deadly assaults against Israeli citizens. Seven of the most heavily convicted individuals are set to be relocated to Egypt for further expulsion.
This latest release included 111 Palestinians who were detained immediately following Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which ignited the current conflict. They had been held without trial.
Prominent Palestinian prisoners released since the ceasefire began on January 19 include:
**Iyad Abu Shakhdam**
At 49, Abu Shakhdam was sentenced to the equivalent of 18 life terms due to his participation in Hamas-led attacks that claimed the lives of numerous Israelis during the second intifada, spanning from 2000 to 2005. His most notorious act was a dual suicide bombing in Beersheba in 2004, which resulted in the deaths of 16 individuals, including a four-year-old, and caused injuries to over 100. In his interviews with Arabic media, he cited a desire for vengeance fueled by the killing of his brother by Israeli forces in 2000. After evading capture for weeks, he was apprehended in Hebron following violent confrontations with Israeli security, in which he sustained ten gunshot wounds. While incarcerated for 21 years, he completed high school and pursued psychology courses.
**Jamal al-Tawil**
Al-Tawil, aged 61, is a notable Hamas politician from the occupied West Bank and has spent nearly two decades in Israeli prisons due to various allegations, including plotting suicide bombings. His most recent arrest occurred in 2021 amid claims of his involvement in violent protests and organizing Hamas activists in Ramallah, where the Palestinian Authority is based. Since his detention, he has remained without charge and undertook a hunger strike for over three weeks to contest his administrative detention. Even while imprisoned, he successfully campaigned for the mayoral position in Al-Bireh town during one of his previous confinement periods.
**Mohammed el-Halabi**
As the Palestinian director of the Gaza branch of World Vision, a significant Christian humanitarian organization, el-Halabi was arrested in 2016 on allegations of misappropriating substantial funds meant for humanitarian purposes to benefit Hamas. Following years of legal disputes, he was released on February 1, after evaluations showed a lack of evidence substantiating the accusations against him. Rights advocates criticized his lack of fair legal representation, emphasizing that he was interrogated for 50 days without legal counsel and received a 12-year sentence. El-Halabi and World Vision have staunchly denied any misconduct.
**Shadi Amouri**
Amouri, 44, from Jenin, was arrested for purportedly producing a car bomb that exploded next to a bus filled with passengers on June 5, 2002, which resulted in the deaths of 17 Israelis. He was sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 20 years. After his release, he was transferred to Egypt on February 1.
**Zakaria Zubeidi**
A well-known figure in the Palestinian resistance, Zubeidi is recognized for both his militant past and his current artistic endeavors as a theater director. Originally a member of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade, he established a theater to foster cultural resistance in Jenin, despite being imprisoned multiple times. Arrested again in 2019 over alleged involvement in violence, he has maintained that he turned away from armed struggle to pursue political activism. Zubeidi gained attention for his daring prison escape in 2021, although he was recaptured shortly afterward.
**Mohammed Abu Warda**
A known Hamas militant during the second intifada, Abu Warda was involved in orchestrating suicide bombings that led to over 40 fatalities and numerous injuries. He was apprehended in 2002 and sentenced to an astonishing 48 life sentences—the highest ever imposed by Israeli authorities. He was deported on January 30.
An activist for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, **Mohammed Aradeh** has also received a life sentence for various transgressions dating back to the second intifada, including attempted murder. He gained notoriety for his role in a highly publicized prison escape in 2021, which left him somewhat of a hero among Palestinians upon his return home on January 25.
Other released individuals include **Mohammed Odeh**, **Wael Qassim**, and **Wissam Abbasi**, who all share links to Hamas and have been linked to significant attacks during the second intifada, receiving numerous life sentences for their actions. **Mohammad al-Tous**, who was said to have the longest continuous imprisonment record prior to Saturday, had been held since 1985, which totals nearly four decades.
