Israel releases 39 Palestinian prisoners in cease-fire deal with Hamas

Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners on Friday as part of a cease-fire deal with the terrorist group Hamas in exchange for 13 Israeli hostages.

Qadura Fares, who heads an advocacy group for prisoners, told the Associated Press 33 prisoners freed in the West Bank were handed to a team from the International Committee of the Red Cross. He said the remaining six were being freed from a Jerusalem lockup.

Under the terms of the agreement, the cease-fire will last for four days. During that time, Israel will exchange 150 Palestinian prisoners for 50 hostages captured by Hamas in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. 

The Israel Defense Forces said earlier the 13 hostages returned by Hamas were in the hands of Israeli authorities and received a medical assessment. They are being transported to Israeli hospitals, where they will be reunited with their families, officials said. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the release of hostages on Friday and said the safe return of all those taken "is one of the goals of the war and we are committed to achieving all of the goals of the war."