Among the released prisoners was Ali Al-Barghouti, who had been serving two life sentences. Several other detainees had been sentenced to long terms in Israeli prisons.
Palestinian Children Evacuated for Medical Treatment
As the prisoner release was underway, a group of 50 sick and wounded Palestinian children began crossing into Egypt for medical treatment. This marked the first opening of the Rafah Crossing since Israeli forces seized it in May.
Egyptian television footage showed Palestinian Red Cross ambulances arriving at the crossing, where children were transferred onto Egyptian ambulances. Many of these children suffer from severe conditions such as cancer or heart disease, and Gaza’s decimated healthcare system is unable to provide the necessary treatment.
Mohammed Zaqout, the director of hospitals in Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry, stated that more than 6,000 patients are awaiting international evacuation for treatment, while over 12,000 need urgent medical care.
