Murderers and terror strategists: 110 Palestinian prisoners to be released in exchange for 3 Israeli hostages

After the release of three Israeli hostages from captivity in Gaza, Israel in exchange released 110 Palestinian prisoners on Thursday, including infamous terrorists with blood on their hands.

In exchange for the release of female IDF soldier Agam Berger, Israel set free 30 terrorists serving life sentences and 20 others serving varying terms.

In exchange for female civilian Arbel Yehud, Israeli released 30 women and minors, and for Gadi Moses, an 80-year-old man, Israel set free 30 prisoners, of whom three are serving life sentences and the rest served varying terms.

Among the most notorious of the released is Zakaria Zubeidi, who was once known as one of the “Icons of the Intifada” and led Israel’s most wanted list for years.

He is the former commander of the Fatah-affiliated Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades in Jenin, and was among the Gilboa Prison escapees in 2021. Israel sees him as responsible for a terror attack in Beit Shean in 2002 in which six civilians were killed and 34 were wounded.

Among the killed was Motti Avraham, a member of the Beit Shean city council. His widow Bela told Ynet News that she has mixed feelings about Zubeidi’s release.

“On the one hand, I want all the kidnapped to return home, and on the other hand, the release is dangerous,” Avraham said.

“Despite the disaster that befell us and the pain that has accompanied us every second of the day since, I would release Zubeidi to save my brothers and sisters from captivity.”

“I believe that the IDF will do what is necessary with all the terrorists who were released. I expect the state to pursue him until his last day,” she added.

Due to the fact that at this moment, Zubeidi was not serving time for the murder of an Israeli, he will be released back to his home in the city of Jenin, in Samaria.

Another notorious terrorist who will be released is Sami Jaradat, member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and one of the terrorists responsible for the attack on the Maxim restaurant in Haifa in 2003, in which 21 Israelis were murdered.

Tova, the widow of Zvi Bahat who was among the murdered, also told Ynet that she is “willing to pay the price to bring our brothers home.”

“I have a grave to go to, and here there is an option to return the living, and the dead people for burial. This is the minimum that their families deserve.”

She said she didn’t think about the release of Jaradat. “I don't think there was a need to ask my opinion, but if they did – I would support it wholeheartedly. This is a daily struggle. I am dealing not only with the bereavement but also with the injury of my son who was seriously injured in the attack and has recovered.”

Hamas terrorist Mohammed Abu Warda is serving the third-highest term among all prisoners, with 48 life sentences. He was responsible for two horrific attacks, one on a bus in Jerusalem in 1996 that killed 44 people, and another in Ashkelon the same year, in which another woman was murdered.

Both Abu Warda and Jaradat will be deported either to the Gaza Strip or to Egypt.

Other murderers who will be released include Ashraf Abu Sarrour, a Palestinian Authority operative who killed a soldier in 2000, Muhammad Amoudi, who sent the suicide bomber who murdered 11 people in Tel Aviv in 2006, and Tarek Batran, who killed a security guard in 2004.

After failing to prevent the celebrations across Judea and Samaria following the last release of prisoners on Saturday, the IDF’s Central Command announced it would again try to stop the parades this week.

This includes the additional deployment of hundreds of soldiers and police officers in Judea and Samaria. The IDF will carry out home visits and early preparations in places where the terrorists will be released and will begin to surveil them as soon as they leave prison.

So far, none of the terrorists released during this ceasefire have been re-arrested.