Jan 27, Kathmandu- Israeli authorities have released 200 Palestinian prisoners as part of the second phase of a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas. The head of the Palestinian Prisoners Club, Abdullah Zaghari, said the prisoners were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Some prisoners were released from Ofer Prison in the West Bank, while others who were being held in Gaza or exiled abroad were released from Negev Prison in southern Israel. Palestinian authorities in the Ramallah Governorate also coordinated the release.

Of those released, 16 went to Gaza. According to the Palestinian Prisoners' Affairs Authority, 121 of the 200 prisoners were serving life sentences. 79 were serving long sentences.