Bus carrying freed Palestinian prisoners and detainees departs Israeli jail, live TV shows

A drone view shows people gathering near Red Cross vehicles, on the day of the release of hostages held in Gaza since the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, as part of a ceasefire and a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on February 15, 2025
| Photo Credit: Reuters

The first bus carrying freed Palestinian prisoners and detainees departed Israeli jail Ofer in the West Bank, live footage showed.

Some 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are set to be released on Saturday (February 15, 2025) after Hamas handed over Israeli hostages Iair Horn, Sagui Dekel-Chen and Sasha Troufanov to the Red Cross after mediation efforts by Egypt and Qatar succeeded in helping maintain a fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel that has halted fighting for almost a month.

Wearing traditional keffiyeh scarves, the freed prisoners were hoisted on the crowd’s shoulders and hugged relatives before heading to a quick health checkup, an AFP journalist reported.

(More details to follow)