by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – In exchange for the phased release of 33 living hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, Israel on January 19 agreed to the phased release of 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 110 who are serving life sentences for some of the most egregious murders of Israelis during terror attacks prior to Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
Hamas killed around 1,200 people and kidnapped 209 Israelis and 54 Thai farm workers during the October 7 attack. The attack triggered an all-out war as Israel invaded Gaza to destroy Hamas’ infrastructure and ability to harm Israelis. Tens of thousands of Palestinians, including Hamas terrorists and its most senior leaders, have been killed, and nearly 1,000 Israeli soldiers have lost their lives in the war so far. Israel’s hostages, including babies and sick and elderly, have remained captive for nearly 16 months.
Between hostage deals and a small number of IDF rescues, there remain 94 hostages in Gaza as of January 20, but at least 30 of these are understood to be dead.
The Jewish Chronicle notes in a January 19 report that among the Palestinian detainees to be released are men convicted of horrifying attacks on Israeli civilians prior to October 7, 2923. “Wissam Abbasi, Mohammad Odeh, and Wael Qassim of the so-called Silwan Squadron, jailed in 2002 in connection to a string of bombings that killed over 30 Israelis in crowded civilian areas of Jerusalem during the Second Intifada, are also listed for release,” JC said.
“Zakaria Zubeidi, detained in 2019 for his role in the shootings near Beit El in the West Bank, is on the list of those set for release. Zubeidi, 49, is believed to have been involved in numerous terror attacks, including the Beit She’an bombing that killed six people at the Likud party branch in 2002, during the peak of the 2000-2005 Second Intifada.
Zubeidi broke out of Gilboa Prison in 2021 along with five Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists but was taken back into custody days later. Also set to be released is Mahmud Abu Warda, who is serving 48 life sentences for planning and executing multiple terror attacks, including the 1996 murder of 45 Israelis in two bus bombings in Jerusalem,” JC reports.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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