A high-ranking Hamas official revealed on Wednesday that negotiators from the Palestinian group and Israel had shared lists of prisoners and hostages for potential release in the ongoing Gaza ceasefire discussions in Egypt.
Israel is optimistic that the talks will result in the release or recovery of the bodies of the 48 remaining hostages taken during the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, with 20 individuals believed to still be alive.
Upon the liberation of all hostages, Israel plans to release 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and 1,700 Gazans detained since the October 7 attacks, including women and children. For each Israeli hostage whose remains are recovered, Israel will release the remains of 15 deceased Gazans.
Here are some notable Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, though it remains uncertain if any of them will be set free:
ABDALLAH AL-BARGHOUTI: In 2004, Barghouti received 67 life sentences from an Israeli military court for his role in suicide attacks in 2001 and 2002, including the deadly attack on a Jerusalem Sbarro restaurant. He was born in Kuwait in 1972 and later resided in Beit Rima village near Ramallah.
IBRAHIM HAMED: Hamed, who was given 54 life terms, was arrested in 2006 in Ramallah for allegedly orchestrating suicide attacks that claimed many Israeli lives. He was a top commander of the Hamas military wing in the West Bank and holds a political science degree from Birzeit University.
HASSAN SALAMA: Born in Gaza in 1971, Salama was convicted of planning suicide bombings in Israel in 1996. He was sentenced to 48 life terms for the attacks, which he claimed were in response to the killing of Hamas bombmaker Yahya Ayyash. Salama was apprehended in Hebron later that year.
Non-Hamas Figures:
Marwan Barghouti, a prominent Fatah member and potential successor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, was arrested in 2002 and sentenced to five life terms in 2004 for his involvement in armed activities against Israel.
Ahmad Saadat, leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, was accused of ordering the assassination of Israeli minister Rehavam Zeevi in 2001. After being sheltered by the Palestinian Authority, Saadat was captured by Israel in 2006 and sentenced to 30 years in jail on various charges.