In a significant turn of events unfolding under the framework of a 42-day cease-fire agreement, Israel is set to release over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli hostages currently held by Hamas in Gaza. This historic exchange, beginning with the release of at least 90 individuals on Sunday, comes amidst a backdrop of deep-seated animosity, differing narratives, and decades of conflict. For many Israelis, these prisoners are seen as terrorists responsible for heinous crimes, while Palestinians often view them as freedom fighters, many of whom they argue were unjustly imprisoned under an Israeli military justice system perceived as biased.
Let’s delve into the lives of some of the most prominent prisoners slated for release, shedding light on their histories, actions, and significance in the broader context of this unfolding story.
Zakaria Zubeidi: From Militant Leader to Fugitive Folk Hero
Zakaria Zubeidi, 49, is a figure whose life story has alternated between violence, art, and defiance. A pivotal actor during the Second Intifada (early 2000s), Zubeidi rose to prominence as a leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, an armed militia tied loosely to Fatah, the secular Palestinian faction dominating the West Bank’s political landscape. The Second Intifada, marked by deadly attacks—often targeting civilians—met fierce Israeli countermeasures, including the reoccupation of major Palestinian cities. Jenin, Zubeidi’s hometown, bore witness to some of the conflict’s most intense confrontations.
Following the end of the Intifada, Zubeidi traded his militant persona for a seemingly more constructive role in his community, working with a theater in Jenin’s refugee camp. However, this chapter of his life did not signify an end to his confrontations with Israel. In 2019, he was rearrested for allegedly returning to militant activities.
Perhaps most spectacularly, Zubeidi captured headlines in 2021 when he and five other prisoners executed a daring jailbreak from one of Israel’s maximum-security prisons. Crawling nearly 32 yards through a tunnel, their escape left Israelis astounded and many Palestinians jubilant. Though eventually recaptured, Zubeidi’s escape cemented his status as both a security risk to Israelis and a symbol of defiance for many Palestinians.
More recently, the violence struck his family. In September, an Israeli airstrike killed Zubeidi’s son, Mohammad, whom the Israeli military described as a “significant terrorist.” This tragic twist underscores the multigenerational toll of a conflict that has tethered families to cycles of resistance and retribution.
Architects of Tragedy: Wissam Abbasi, Mohammad Odeh, and Wael Qassim
Among those due for release are Wissam Abbasi, 48, Mohammad Odeh, 52, and Wael Qassim, 54, three individuals convicted of carrying out attacks during the Second Intifada on behalf of Hamas. These men were handed life sentences for their roles in a Hamas cell in Jerusalem that orchestrated devastating bombings, killing over 30 Israeli civilians in crowded places.
One of the most infamous incidents associated with the trio is the bombing of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 2002, which claimed nine lives, including four Americans. Odeh, who had worked as a painter at the university, planted the bomb in a cafeteria, discreetly covering it with a newspaper before detonating it remotely using a cellphone. These acts of calculated brutality have made their looming release highly contentious in Israel.
However, their freedom will come with a caveat: the three men are barred from returning to their homes in Jerusalem. The Israeli Justice Ministry has mandated that they live in exile, though it remains unclear where they will ultimately be allowed to go.
Khalida Jarrar: A Voice of Resistance and Incarceration
One of the most prominent individuals expected to be released is Khalida Jarrar, 62, a leader in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a left-wing political and paramilitary organization labeled a terrorist group by Israel, the United States, and European Union. Jarrar is a seasoned political activist and advocate for Palestinian prisoner rights, embodying a voice of defiance and dignity for many in the Palestinian territories. Her political influence was cemented when she was elected to the Palestinian Parliament in 2006.
Although she has not been tied to direct participation in the PFLP’s violent activities, Jarrar has been a frequent detainee, spending much of the last decade in and out of Israeli prisons. Often held without formal charges under a contentious Israeli practice known as administrative detention, her imprisonment has drawn condemnation from rights groups, which view this as a severe breach of due process. Israel, however, argues that such detentions are sometimes necessary to protect intelligence operations.
Jarrar’s detention shadowed deeply personal losses as well. When her daughter Suha passed away in 2021, Israel denied her request to attend the funeral, a decision that drew widespread criticism and highlighted the human toll of the conflict.
Her anticipated release now brings mixed emotions to her family. Her husband, Ghassan Jarrar, expressed his excitement at the prospect of a reunion but remained painfully aware of the price they’ve paid during her long years of incarceration.
The Larger Implications of the Prisoner Releases
The exchange of prisoners as part of this cease-fire agreement is not simply a humanitarian gesture but a fraught political gamble for both sides. For Israelis, releasing individuals convicted of some of the most notorious crimes during the Second Intifada is an excruciating decision, one underpinned by the desire to secure the return of their hostages from Gaza. Critics argue that freeing such prisoners undermines the justice system and risks emboldening future acts of violence.
For Palestinians, these detainees symbolize their broader struggle against Israeli occupation and what they perceive as systemic injustices. The prisoners—many hailed as heroes or martyrs—are often regarded as symbols of resilience and resistance. Yet, their release serves as a reminder of the pervasive cycles of violence that have gripped both communities for generations.
This agreement unfolds at a time when the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is at one of its most volatile junctures, with outbreaks of violence in Gaza, the West Bank, and within Israel’s borders dramatically escalating in recent months. The cease-fire, while offering temporary relief, does little to address the deep structural issues that perpetuate conflict, leaving many questioning how long this fragile truce can hold.
A Painful Balance of Hope and Consequence
At its heart, this prisoner exchange is emblematic of the painful compromises that wars and conflicts demand. For families of both Israelis and Palestinians, the moments of release or return are fraught with joy, sadness, and anger all interwoven together. It’s a bittersweet reminder that while temporary truces can provide fleeting moments of solace, the underlying wounds of a protracted conflict continue to fester.
For Zakaria Zubeidi, Wissam Abbasi, Mohammad Odeh, Wael Qassim, and Khalida Jarrar, their looming freedom is a significant personal turning point. Yet, for the communities they leave behind in prison cells or return to in a state of exile, their stories are far from resolved.
The narrative of prisoners being exchanged for hostages is as much about individuals as it is about the enduring enmity between two peoples enmeshed in a tragic stalemate. While the cease-fire offers a glimmer of hope, it also serves as a stark reminder of the devastating human cost of this seemingly unending conflict.
