Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners released
Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners boarded buses early today at a prison in southern Israel on their way to freedom, the last phase of an Israeli pledge to release 900 prisoners as part of a ceasefire deal.
The 398 prisoners were being taken to different crossing points in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to be released later today.
In the past, Israel has refused to release prisoners who have not served two-thirds of their terms, but yesterday 93 of the detainees had only completed a fraction of their sentences.
Some of the prisoners released were charged for attempted shootings, preparing explosives and assisting attempted murder.
Israel pledged at a summit in February at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik to release 900 prisoners.
Immediately after the regional summit, 500 prisoners were freed, but Palestinians complained that most had already completed nearly their entire sentence and were set to be released within a short time.
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