As part of the first phase of the agreement to end the two-year Israeli-American genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, a total of 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences in Israeli jails, along with 1,718 Palestinians detained since October 7, 2023, were released on Monday.
Among those to be freed are prominent figures such as Mahmoud al-Ardah, leader of the Freedom Tunnel operation; Ayham Kamamji, his comrade in the escape; Kamil Abu Hanish, writer and PFLP leader serving nine life sentences; Bassem Khandaqji, novelist and winner of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction serving three life sentences; and Mahmoud Issa, a Palestinian student and writer imprisoned since 1993, who established Al-Qassam cells in al-Quds dedicated to the liberation of Palestinian prisoners.