Who are the Palestinian prisoners released by Israel in November 2023?

105 hostages were released in these exchange deals between 24^th-30^th of November. The negotiations for the seven rounds of exchange — one on each day of the pause —centered on women and children on either side of the conflict. 81 Israeli hostages — including those who also hold citizenship from other countries — were released during these swaps[1]. Outside of the swap deals, 4 Israelis were released by Hamas unilaterally and 1 hostage was rescued by the IDF[2]. As of Dec. 1, Hamas had released a total of 110 hostages, mostly women and children, according to the Israeli government[3]. Eighty-six are Israelis, some with dual citizenship with other nations, and 24 foreign nationals[4][5]. 23 of the non-Israeli captives freed were from Thailand, released under a separate agreement[6]. Citizens of the Philippines and Russia, also numbered among the hostages Hamas released[7].

The framework saw 80 Israelis, some of whom hold dual citizenships, released from Hamas captivity during the swap deals[8]. These included four-year-old Abigail Edan, an Israeli-American girl who was released on November 26th, who witnessed her parents being murdered by Hamas terrorists before being kidnapped[9]. They also included Doron Katz Asher, a 34-year-old Israeli-German citizen, and her two daughters, Raz 4, and Aviv 2, were taken from their grandmother’s home in Kibbutz Nir Oz[10]. Their grandmother, Efrat Katz, was murdered by Hamas. Doron, Raz, and Aviv were released by Hamas on November 24th[11].

The Israeli Justice Ministry initially posted a list of 300 Palestinian teenagers and women who could potentially be released through the deal, and added 50 names to that list as the exchanges progressed[12][13] (see Appendix A for the full list). Under the terms of the agreement, which was finalized after weeks of negotiations, Israel released three imprisoned Palestinians for every Israeli hostage released by Hamas from Gaza.

Israel ultimately freed 240 Palestinian prisoners in exchange under the week-long cease-fire deal that began on Nov. 24, exchanging three prisoners for every one woman or child hostage[14][15][16]. The 240 Palestinian prisoners were 83 women and 157 minors[17][18].

As of January 2024, Hamas holds 108 hostages alive and about 25 bodies[19]. 27 Israeli hostages have reportedly been killed in Hamas captivity according to Israel,[20][21][22] 3 hostages were killed by friendly fire from the IDF[23] and the bodies of 9 hostages were repatriated through a military operation.[24][25] Not all remaining hostages are said to be held by Hamas. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Popular Front terror groups are said to be holding many of the remaining hostages, as well as non-affiliated Gaza citizens.

Profiling the released Palestinian terrorists: Affiliated with Hamas and “lone wolves”; minors and adults; charged with offenses from stone throwing through placing explosives to attempted murder

The New York Times compared the Israeli data with lists of the Palestinians released each day by the Palestinian Authority’s Commission for Prisoners’ Affairs to assess prisoner numbers and demographics. Of the 240 Palestinian prisoners released during the swaps, 107 were aged between 14 and 17; 104 males, of whom five were 14, and three females, all 16 and 17[26]. The remaining 133 were adults; 65 men, all aged 18 except one who turned 19 in prison, and 68 women. 107 of the 240 released prisoners were under 18[27]. A majority of the people released, 155 of them, were from Judea and Samaria (“the West Bank”); 72 were from Jerusalem’s eastern neighborhoods, and one was from Gaza. The lists on Wednesday and Thursday, November 29-30, also included some Arab citizens of Israel, who are not normally included in exchange deals[28]. That raised alarm among some observers who feared their inclusion could be used to tie them to Hamas or to threaten revoking their citizenship.

Unlike Hamas’ illegal captivity of Israeli citizens and soldiers, in contravention of international law, Israel detained all of the Palestinians on the government list for offenses related to Israel’s security, from throwing stones to supporting terrorism and attempted murder following legal procedures, were the prisoners also had the right to be represented by an attorney. More than half of the cases were being prosecuted in Israeli military courts[29]. Additionally, many of the Palestinian prisoners released by Israel had been arrested for crimes such as: threatening security, illegally entering Israel without a permit, throwing stones, supporting terrorism, associating with hostile or unknown organizations[30].

Most of the released Palestinian prisoners were arrested between 2021 and 2023. The Israeli data shows that three-quarters of the released Palestinians had been in prison for less than a year; 37 were arrested during the Israeli military’s crackdown following the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attacks on Israel[31]. However, released prisoner Shorouq Dwayyat was arrested in 2015 and was serving the ninth year of her 16-year sentence. She was 18 when she was arrested and held in Damon prison in Haifa, accused of stabbing an Israeli with a knife[32].

According to data provided by the IPS and the Israel Defense Forces, at least 55 percent of the 117 Palestinian prisoners released during the first three days of the deal had been held for violent crimes, including 10 for attempted murder, 13 for inflicting serious bodily harm, 19 for placing a bomb or throwing an incendiary device, seven for shooting at people, and five for assault.[33] Ten of the released prisoners were held with stone-throwing as their most serious alleged violent crime.[34] Twenty-one percent of the released prisoners were listed as affiliated with a recognized terrorist organization, including Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine[35].

Here are some notable examples of released prisoners associated with terrorism felonies:

Hanan Al-Barghouthi and Roda Musa Abdelkader Abu Agamiya.[36] The detainee, Al-Barghouti, is the sister of Nael Al-Barghouti, who spent a total of more than 43 years in Israeli prison, and she is the sister of Omar Al-Barghouti. The Barghouti family is one of the most prominent Palestinian families involved in acts of terror against Israel[37]. Released prisoner Roda Musa Abdelkader Abu Agamiya was filmed upon release chanting in support of Hamas and their violence against Israelis. “We are the sword of (Al-Qassam Brigades Head) Mohamed Deif,” she exclaimed. Roda Agamiya was released after six months in Israeli prison on charges of contact with a hostile organization, illegal stay, violation of a legal provision, state security, assembly or association, and violation of the Law on Entry into Israel (See video here).

Ragah Abu Kias, connected with Fatah, was arrested at the age of 16 in July 2021 for opening fire on Jews. As a minor, he was given a reduced sentence of five years and two months in prison before he was added to the released prisoner list[38]. Saadi Abu Adi, connected with Hamas, was arrested aged 17 in April 2023. His arrest was also for opening fire on Jews[39].Nafoz Hamad was youngest Palestinian prisoner to be released. At age 14 in December 2021, he had stabbed and critically injured a young Jewish mother in Jerusalem who had been his neighbor. He served less than 2 years of a 12-year sentence before being released and his victim still lives nearby.[40] Upon his release, police called a halt to a party being held in honor of his arrival.
Marah Bechir, connected with Hamas, was arrested in October 2015, aged 16, when she stabbed a Border Police officer. She was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison.
Fatima Shahin aged 33, was arrested for attempted murder of an Israeli in Judea and Samaria.
Malak Salman, Islamic Jihad member, was 16 when she was arrested for an attempted stabbing of an Israeli Border Police officer at the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem in February 2016[41].
Rawan Nafez Mohammad Abu Matar, 29, was imprisoned for stabbing an Israeli soldier in 2015[42].
Shorouq Dwayyat, 26, stabbed a 35-year-old Israeli man multiple times in 2015 and was sentenced to 16 years in prison for attempted murder. The man managed to cock his handgun, and shot Dwayyat, wounding her seriously.[43] Prior to this, she had written on social media of her desire to become a martyr. All were released under the prisoner swap deals. Ahmed Marzouk, 18, was arrested four months prior to his release for assaulting police, arson, and possession of weapons[44].
Amani Heshim, 37, arrested in December 2016 and charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm and possession of weapons[45].
Walela Khaled Fozi Tangi, 26, detained in August 2022 and charged with attempted murder and possession of weapons and explosives.[46]
Israa Jaabis, aged 31, attempted a car bomb attack near the Israeli community of Ma’ale Adumim in 2015 that wounded an Israeli police officer.[47]
Majd Freihat was arrested on March 21, 2023 and sentenced to 18 months on serious weapons charges and connections to PIJ.[48]Nurhan Awad was 17 when she was sentenced to 13 and a half years in prison in 2016 for attempting to stab an Israeli soldier with scissors.[49][50]
Maysoon Musa Al-Jabali was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2015 of attempted murder after stabbing a 20-year-old female soldier at a Bethlehem checkpoint and seriously wounding her.
Aisha Afghani, was convicted after an attempted 2016 stabbing attack on Israelis in Jerusalem’s Old City in 2016.[51][52]
17-year-old Ahmed Abu Na’im, served 12 months in jail for throwing stones during clashes with Israeli security forces at a protest. He was subsequently also charged with throwing a bomb or incendiary device. It was his third arrest in one year.[53]
Israel also released 14-year-old Ahmad Al-Salayme and he was reunited with his family. Ahmad was arrested in May 2023 for throwing stones at Jews in Jerusalem[54].
Noah Bseso, aged 17, had been arrested in August 2023 for throwing rocks, and incendiary devices at Israeli troops. He had participated in a July protest in Isawiya when Israeli troops entered[55].

Twenty-one percent of the released prisoners were listed as affiliated with a recognized terror organization, most common among them Hamas, followed by Palestinian Islamic Jihad.[56] Amongst them are the following prisoners:

High-profile Palestinian activist Ahed Tamini, 22, was arrested three weeks ago after allegedly writing a social media post that promised to “slaughter Israeli settlers”. Tamimi spent eight months in Israeli prison aged 16 on assault and incitement charges for slapping and kicking two Israeli soldiers during a protest. The video of the event went viral and her mother, who made the video was arrested for incitement and served alongside her in prison (see video here).[57][58]
Marwat al-Azza, 45, a freelance journalist, was arrested in November 2023 for inciting terrorism online and identifying with a terrorist organization. Ms al-Azza, had previously worked for US broadcaster NBC. The broadcaster cut ties with her following her arrest.[59]

The above illustrates the heavy price exerted on the Israeli public, and is reflective of the dilemma of the Israeli leadership before the release of Palestinian prisoners, in light of their danger to society, as part of a broader set of considerations as part of hostage swap deals. That includes public pressure, the value of life, and the commitment to bring hostages home alongside serious security elements.