Israel Frees 50 Palestinians from West Bank Prison, Citing High Security Needs

Approximately 50 Palestinian inmates were released from the Ofer Prison in the West Bank on Thursday night. All of the released prisoners had been arrested following the October 7 attack, as per Palestinian sources. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet security agency justified the release on Friday, stating the prison needed to accommodate detainees posing a higher security risk. These prisoners were reportedly on the cusp of release in the upcoming months.

Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, contested the explanation provided by prison authorities, attributing the release to a directive from the Shin Bet’s head as a “gift” for the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Ben Gvir’s statement highlighted his concern, especially noting the timing of the release coinciding with the murder of two Jews and following a request to extend the administrative detention of a Jewish settler.

The release has sparked a debate, with security services pointing out the operational challenges posed by the ongoing conflict, including a critical shortage of prison spaces that led to the cancellation of planned arrests during Ramadan. Additionally, reports from Ynet referencing the Public Defender’s Office have criticized the inhumane conditions within Israeli prisons.

This incident comes on the heels of a covert meeting earlier in February between senior Israeli security officials and the Palestinian Authority (PA), aiming to reduce the number of raids in the West Bank before Ramadan, as reported by The Times of Israel.