GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Amid concerns about the possible collapse of a ceasefire deal, Israel has released 39 Palestinian teenagers and women from its prisons. The release of these prisoners comes after the total number of Palestinians released since the temporary ceasefire began reached 78. The delay in the exchange occurred when Hamas accused Israel of altering the list of prisoners it had agreed to release, and claimed that not enough aid shipments had made it through to Gaza as part of the deal. However, last-minute mediation led by Qatar and Egypt allowed the handover to proceed.

The released prisoners, including six women and mostly teenagers under the age of 18, were greeted by a crowd waving the green flag of Hamas as they made their way through the West Bank to reunite with their families. Among the detainees was a 17-year-old named Mohammad dar-Darwish, who expressed his joy at returning home and denied the charges that led to his imprisonment.

Israel has compiled a list of 300 Palestinian prisoners eligible for release, mainly teenage boys, under the agreement with Hamas. Most are awaiting trial, and less than a quarter of those on the list have been convicted. One of the adult women released was Israa Jaabis, who had been sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2015 after her car caught fire near a checkpoint in the West Bank. She denied the charge, and her family claimed the fire resulted from an engine fault.

Following the release of these detainees, more prisoners and hostages are scheduled to be released on Sunday in accordance with the agreement. This development comes as the ceasefire agreement enters its third day, with Israel denying any violation of its terms.