January 20, 2025 | Flash Brief
Released Palestinians Greeted with Terrorist Flags, Notorious Terrorists Set for Release in Future Rounds
January 20, 2025 | Flash Brief
Released Palestinians Greeted with Terrorist Flags, Notorious Terrorists Set for Release in Future Rounds
Latest Developments
- Israel Releases 90 Imprisoned Palestinians Following Recovery of 3 Hostages: Following the January 19 freeing of three Israeli hostages from Hamas captivity, Israel released 90 Palestinians from Israeli jails, the majority of whom were incarcerated for committing terrorism. Seventy-eight of the freed prisoners were bussed to the West Bank town of Beitunia, where they were received by crowds of Palestinians waving the flags of U.S.-designated terrorist organizations Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, as well as the Palestinian political party Fatah. The remaining 12 were released in eastern Jerusalem.
- Palestinian Women, Teens in Initial Release: Among the Palestinian prisoners released by Israel was Khalida Jarrar, a convicted member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP); Jarrar was involved in several plane hijackings and the 2019 bombing attack that killed an Israeli teenager in the West Bank. Also released was Dalal Khaseeb, the sister of former Hamas commander Saleh al-Arouri. Additionally, Nawal Abed Fatiha, who stabbed a 70-year-old Israeli man in a 2020 attack in Jerusalem, and Ibrahim Zamar, who shot two people near the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in 2023 when he was 15 years old, were both released.
- Terrorists Convicted of Bloody Attacks Slated for Release: Notorious Palestinian terrorists are set to be released in future rounds of exchanges, responsible for the combined deaths of hundreds of Israelis. These include: Zakaria Zubeidi, a senior member of Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade who was involved in a 2002 attack that killed six people in Beit She’an; Sami Jaradat, a Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist who sent the suicide bomber who killed 21 Israelis at Maxim restaurant in Haifa in 2003; Mohammad Abu Warda, serving 48 life sentences for his involvement in two Jerusalem bus bombings in 1996 which killed 45 people; Tabet Mardawi, involved in the murder of 20 Israelis during the second intifada; Arafat Irfaiya, who raped and murdered Israeli teenager Ori Ansbacher in 2019; Mohammed Naifeh, responsible for planning a 2002 attack in Kibbutz Metzer which killed five Israelis and a separate attack in Hermesh where three Israeli women were killed; and Wael Qassem, a former Hamas leader from Silwan, East Jerusalem, who is serving 35 life sentences for his involvement in the 2002 attacks at Café Moment in Jerusalem, the Sheffield Club in Rishon Lezion, and Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Hundreds of additional convicted Palestinian terrorists will be released as part of the hostage recovery and ceasefire deal.
FDD Expert Response
“More than anything, Israelis want their hostages back and have made serious concessions to Hamas in this deal, including the planned release of terrorists with significant amounts of blood on their hands. However, if there are bumps in the road with the initial phase, and if Hamas doesn’t hold up their end of the deal and return a sufficient number of live hostages, all bets are off the table and the war will likely resume.” — Enia Krivine, Senior Director of FDD’s Israel Program and National Security Network
“Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners for the first three hostages in Hamas captivity was a difficult decision but likely a necessary one. Among the 90 prisoners released, some have affiliation with Palestinian factions and were serving sentences for serious offenses. Nonetheless, challenging times lay ahead. Israel is scheduled to release bomb-makers, terrorists who drove suicide bombers to their targets, and senior members of armed groups. It will be a bitter pill to swallow for the victims of terrorism and the state of Israel.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal
“Margaret Thatcher, who nearly lost her own life in an IRA bombing, would repeatedly say that terrorism ‘is not political. It is crime.’ Too many of the crimes committed by the prisoners slated for release were crimes of a bestial sort, reminiscent of the pathology of serial killers. This exemplifies the heavy price Israel has had to pay to secure the lives of these hostages. The fear that these criminals will again offend is understood all too well in Jerusalem.” — Ben Cohen, Senior Analyst and Rapid Response Manager
FDD Background and Analysis
“After 471 Days of Captivity, Hamas Releases Three Israeli Women on First Day of Ceasefire,” FDD Flash Brief
“‘On Guard Ahead of Gaza Deal:’ Houthi Missiles, Stabbing Attack Hit Israel,” FDD Flash Brief
“‘Hamas Finally Agreed’: Israel-Hamas Reach Second Ceasefire and Hostage Deal After 15 Months of War,” FDD Flash Brief