Fifteen Palestinians detainees from the dozens released by Israel under the January 19 ceasefire agreement with Hamas arrived today at Turkey after their deportation to Egypt, the Hamas press office for the prisoners said.
They are the first to be accepted from a third country other than Egypt under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, which prohibits prisoners convicted by Israel of violent attacks from returning to the Palestinian Territories.
For Palestinians, Palestinians imprisoned for fighting against Israel are heroes of the resistance.
A Turkish security source said 15 Palestinian prisoners were expected to arrive via Egypt but gave no further details.
The first phase of the ceasefire led to the release by Hamas of 18 hostages and by Israel of 583 Palestinian prisoners, of whom at least 79 were sent to Egypt. As well as those going to Turkey, some may go to Algeria or Qatar, Hamas sources said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet today with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss Gaza and Iran.
The war in the Gaza Strip began with a Hamas-led militant attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, that killed 1,200 people, while at least 250 others were taken hostage. The Israeli military campaign caused the deaths of at least 47,000 Palestinians and reduced the Palestinian enclave to rubble.
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