Israel releases seven more Palestinian prisoners in Gaza

Israel released seven more Palestinian detainees, who were taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, Anadolu reports.

Teams from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the transfer, escorting the detainees into Gaza through the Kerem Abu Salem crossing in the south of the enclave.

After entering Gaza, the detainees were transported to Deir al-Balah, where they arrived at the hospital for medical examinations and further care.

The release and handover took place amid ongoing humanitarian strain in the Gaza Strip, where hospitals have repeatedly reported shortages and heavy patient caseloads.

According to Palestinian data, more than 9,300 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons, including at least 3,385 held in administrative detention without charge or trial.

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Israel has sharply escalated its violations against Palestinian detainees, particularly those from Gaza, since the start of the war, including starvation, torture, sexual violence and systematic denial of medical care, rights groups said.

Israel has killed more than 71,000 people, mostly women and children, and injured over 170,000 others in attacks in Gaza since October 2023.

A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas took effect on Oct. 10.

The first phase of the agreement included a ceasefire and the entry of humanitarian aid that Palestinian groups described as extremely limited and insufficient to meet basic needs, leaving residents on the brink of famine.

It also included the handover of Israeli captives, both living and dead, with the exception of one set of remains, in exchange for Israel’s release of Palestinian prisoners and the return of Palestinian bodies bearing signs of torture, strangulation, starvation and medical neglect.

Gaza’s government media office said Thursday that Israel committed 1,244 ceasefire violations of the deal, killing, wounding and detaining 1,760 Palestinians since the agreement took effect on Oct. 10, 2025.

Israel was established in 1948 on land seized during the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and later occupied the remaining Palestinian territories. Israel continues to reject withdrawal and the establishment of a Palestinian state.

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