Many of the Palestinians released by Israeli authorities as part of the agreement with the Hamas group on the exchange of hostages are in severe physical and psychological condition, according to the Al Jazeera TV channel.
According to Al Jazeera, former captives of Israeli prisons who were brought to the European Hospital in Gaza for medical examinations and rehabilitation are reported to be psychologically and physically exhausted. Some of them have lost limbs, while others suffer from severe injuries caused by torture in Israeli prisons and detention camps, the channel reported.
On the night of February 27, Israel released 42 people, comprising the seventh and final group of Palestinian prisoners released under the first phase of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. In total, this phase saw the release of 641 Palestinians, including 151 who were serving life sentences, as well as 445 residents of Gaza, among them 45 women and children, who were arrested after the events of October 7, 2023.
Earlier, the release process faced a major crisis. On the night of February 23, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that the planned February 22 release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners would be postponed until Hamas agreed to cancel public ceremonies held to mark the release of Israeli hostages or the transfer of their bodies.
However, on the night of February 26, Hamas announced that Israel would proceed with releasing the Palestinians who were originally due to be freed on February 22, in exchange for the bodies of four Israeli hostages.
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Based on TASS materials