The release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails began on Monday as part of a prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas. A total of 1,966 Palestinian prisoners are scheduled to be released.

A senior official involved in the operation told Reuters that the first of 38 buses carrying the released Palestinian prisoners has crossed into Gaza.

The Al Arabiya and Al Hadath crews near Ofer prison faced harassment and tear gas to force them away, while Israeli authorities warned against any celebratory displays during the prisoner release.

The Prisoners Affairs Office affiliated with Hamas announced that 154 Palestinian prisoners were released from Israeli jails under the Gaza ceasefire agreement and will be deported to other countries.

According to a statement on the office’s Telegram channel, 154 out of 250 prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment and long terms in Israel will be deported outside Palestinian territories after their release. They include supporters of the Fatah and Hamas movements, Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

It is noteworthy that indirect negotiations between Israeli and Hamas delegations resumed in Sharm El-Sheikh on October 6, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States.

On October 9, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that representatives of Israel and Hamas had reached agreements on the first phase of a peace plan following negotiations in Egypt. According to Trump, this phase involves the immediate release of all hostages and the Israeli army’s withdrawal to an agreed line inside Gaza.

On October 10, the Israeli army announced that the ceasefire agreement had come into effect.