In Ramallah hundreds greet Zubeidi, who organized dozens of attacks during the Second Intifada; 66 prisonerrs sent to West Bank, 14 to East Jerusalem, 9 to Gaza and 21 exiled The post Zakaria Zubeidi among terrorists to get heroes’ welcome as Israel frees 110 prisoners appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Hamas freed three Israeli and five Thai hostages in Gaza on Thursday and Israel began releasing 110 Palestinian prisoners after delaying the process in anger at the swarming crowds at one of the hostage handover points.

Zakaria Zubeidi, a former Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades leader, is among the second group of Palestinian detainees to be freed on Saturday.

The release was delayed by a chaotic scene in which a crowd of Palestinians surrounded and jeered at hostages as they were turned over to the Red Cross.

Hamas-led militants freed eight hostages on Thursday in the latest release since a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip took hold earlier this month. Israel was expected to release another 110 Palestinian prisoners.

As part of the swap, Palestinian militants in Gaza freed five Thai and three Israeli hostages, handing them over to the Red Cross amid chaotic crowds.

Israel and Hamas say the militant group will release three Israelis, including two women and an 80-year-old man, along with five Thai nationals in the next hostage release on Thursday

The truce is aimed at winding down the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and Hamas, whose Oct. 7, 2023, attack into Israel sparked the fighting.

Zakaria Zubeidi, whose mother and brother were killed by Israeli troops, is a symbol of resistance to some Palestinians. A man who generates extraordinarily varied responses, he was mobbed by supporters on his release from prison.

Hamas-led militants freed eight hostages on Thursday as part of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, but the chaotic handover of some of the captives, who masked militants shuttled through a rowdy crowd of thousands,

Zakaria Zubeidi, a former Palestinian militant leader, was released as part of a ceasefire deal. Known for his role in the Second Intifada, his release underscores shifting Israeli military focus to the West Bank.