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Israel frees 60 Gazan detainees in largest release since truce
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Conflict & Security

Israel frees 60 Gazan detainees in largest release since truce

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • Israel released 60 Palestinian detainees from Gaza on Monday, the largest group since a hostage exchange agreement in October.
  • The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the transfer of detainees from the Kerem Shalom border crossing.
  • The ICRC also reported being denied access to Palestinian detainees in Israeli facilities since October 2023 and reiterated its call for access and information.

In a significant development, Israel released 60 Palestinian detainees from the Gaza Strip on Monday. This marks the largest group of Gazan detainees freed since the hostage exchange agreement was reached in October, according to a statement from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The ICRC facilitated today the transfer of 60 released detainees from the Kerem Shalom border crossing to the Naser Medical Complex (in the south of the Strip).

— ICRCStatement detailing the facilitation of the transfer of Palestinian detainees.

The ICRC confirmed that its teams facilitated the transfer of these 60 individuals from the Kerem Shalom border crossing to the Naser Medical Complex in southern Gaza. The organization noted that its teams have managed the transfer of over 2,500 released detainees in this manner since 2023. The ICRC also assisted in the "contact and reunion" of the released detainees with their families.

However, the ICRC also used the occasion to highlight ongoing concerns regarding access to Palestinian detainees held in Israeli detention centers. The organization stated that its teams have been unable to access these detainees since October 2023, the period following the Hamas-led attacks that escalated the current conflict. The ICRC reiterated its "need to be informed about the fate and whereabouts of all detainees and to be allowed access to them," confirming it remains in dialogue with Israeli authorities on this matter.

The ICRC has not been able to access Palestinian detainees held in Israeli detention centers since October 2023.

— ICRCStatement highlighting the lack of access to detainees.

Human rights organizations, including the Israeli group B'Tselem, have previously reported widespread abuses and mistreatment in Israeli detention centers and prisons. These reports are based on testimonies from released prisoners, detailing issues such as lack of medical care, insufficient food, and instances of sexual violence. The conditions for Palestinian security prisoners have reportedly worsened, particularly during the tenure of Itamar Ben Gvir as National Security Minister.

The organization reiterated 'the need to be informed about the fate and whereabouts of all detainees and to be allowed access to them'.

— ICRCReiterating the call for access and information regarding all detainees.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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