Israel is set to release almost 2,000 Palestinian detainees and convicted prisoners from its jails later today.

Those 1,966 detainees boarded buses at Israeli prisons and most were expected to be released at Gaza’s Nasser Hospital on Monday, an official involved in the operation said.

About a dozen masked gunmen dressed in black, apparently members of Hamas’ armed wing, arrived at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, Reuters footage showed.

 A general view shows preparations at the Ofer military prison located between Ramallah and Beitunia in the occupied West Bank on Oct 13, 2025, ahead of the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages held by Hamas in Gaza since the October 7 attacks. — AFP
A general view shows preparations at the Ofer military prison located between Ramallah and Beitunia in the occupied West Bank on Oct 13, 2025, ahead of the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages held by Hamas in Gaza since the October 7 attacks. — AFP

Opinion

Editorial

Missing in action
17 Mar, 2026

Missing in action

NOT exactly known for playing a proactive role in protecting the interests of Muslim nations and populations...
Risk to stability
Updated 17 Mar, 2026

Risk to stability

THE risks to Pakistan’s fragile economic recovery from the US-Israel war on Iran cannot be dismissed. Yet the...
Enrolment push
17 Mar, 2026

Enrolment push

THE federal government has embarked upon the welcome initiative to enrol 25,000 out-of-school children in Islamabad...
Holding the line
16 Mar, 2026

Holding the line

PAKISTAN’S long battle against polio has recently produced encouraging signs. Data from the national eradication...
Power self-reliance
Updated 16 Mar, 2026

Power self-reliance

PAKISTAN’S transition to domestic sources of electricity is a welcome development for a country that has long been...
Looking for safety
16 Mar, 2026

Looking for safety

AS the Middle East conflict enters its third week, the war’s most enduring victims are not those who wage it....