Red Cross buses carrying 110 Palestinian prisoners arrived in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Thursday (January 30) as part of a phased agreement that ended over 15 months of conflict.
The release of the detainees, part of a wider agreement that halted the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, sparked celebrations in the Palestinian territories.
Women, dressed in traditional Palestinian attire, ululated as the buses arrived, while men chanted, “We sacrifice our souls and blood for you.” The most prominent figure among the freed prisoners was Zakaria Zubaidi, a leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas' rival, the Fatah group. Zubaidi had previously escaped prison in 2021 but was recaptured soon after. Known as a strongman of the city of Jenin, Zubaidi's release was widely celebrated.
The mood turned tense as Israeli army vehicles entered Ramallah and fired stun grenades at the crowd, which had gathered to welcome the prisoners. Some Palestinians responded by throwing stones at the Israeli forces. Palestinian health officials reported at least 14 injuries from Israeli fire, including live and rubber bullets, and gas inhalation.
While the celebration in Ramallah continued, clashes with Israeli troops underscored the ongoing tensions in the region. Despite the prisoner exchange, the situation remains volatile, with no immediate comment from Israeli authorities regarding the confrontation.
The release came amid wider efforts to ease hostilities, with Hamas also freeing three Israeli and five Thai hostages in Gaza on the same day.
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On an unusually warm January day in northern Greece, farmer Dimitris Marinoglou plowed his field, filled with anxiety. He feared that the water flowing from Bulgaria for decades, sustaining his family's crops, might be cut off this summer.
Amazon Music Unlimited is raising its subscription prices again, with new rates already in effect for new subscribers as of January 29. Existing users will see the changes reflected in their billing cycle on or after March 5.
On an unusually warm January day in northern Greece, farmer Dimitris Marinoglou plowed his field, filled with anxiety. He feared that the water flowing from Bulgaria for decades, sustaining his family's crops, might be cut off this summer.
Azerbaijan is ready to enhance cooperation with international partners to implement upcoming development targets, Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev stated at the “High-Level Strategic Prioritization” event within the UN-Azerbaijan Cooperation Framework on Sustainable Development (2026-2030).
Amazon Music Unlimited is raising its subscription prices again, with new rates already in effect for new subscribers as of January 29. Existing users will see the changes reflected in their billing cycle on or after March 5.
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