Mr. Zubeidi, who was also once a theater director, stunned Israelis and Palestinians alike when he and others broke out of jail in 2021.

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas freed eight hostages on Thursday as part of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, but the chaotic handover of some of the captives, who were shuttled through a rowdy crowd of thousands by masked militants, drew an angry protest from Israel.

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.

Zakaria Zubeidi, A prominent leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah), and a former member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council, was released Thursday as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

Zakaria Zubeidi, a former leader of the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, was released as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. Zubeidi,

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.

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.

Hamas is set to free three Israeli captives and five Thai captives on Thursday, and Israel will release another 110 Palestinian prisoners in the third such exchange since a ceasefire took hold earlier this January in the Gaza Strip.

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.

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.

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

In exchange, Israel will release more than 110 Palestinian prisoners in the third exchange since the ceasefire deal was struck earlier this month. | ITV National News