Israeli forces raid homes of Palestinian prisoners’ families in West Bank: Witnesses

Israeli forces raided the homes of several Palestinian prisoners’ families in the occupied West Bank, warning them against holding celebrations ahead of the expected prisoner releases under a cease-fire agreement, according to witnesses.

Eyewitnesses told Anadolu Agency that Israeli troops entered multiple homes of families whose relatives were set to be freed on Monday as part of the ongoing truce deal between Israel and Hamas. Soldiers reportedly threatened the families, instructing them not to celebrate the releases.

In Al-Bireh, a town near Ramallah, Israeli forces raided the home of Hamas leader and prisoner Jamal al-Tawil. His daughter, journalist Bushra al-Tawil, told Anadolu Agency that the family was explicitly warned.

“Israeli soldiers threatened to arrest all of our family members if we celebrated my father’s release,” she said.

Similar incidents were reported in Kubar, a town north of Ramallah, where Israeli soldiers raided the home of prisoner Shadi Fahri Bargouthi’s family. Bargouthi, who has been serving a 27-year sentence since 2004, is among those expected to be released under the agreement. His family was also allegedly threatened with repercussions should they celebrate his return.

Israeli forces also entered the homes of the families of prisoners Rafat Hamid and Atif al-Salihin, issuing the same warnings, Anadolu Agency reported.

The releases are part of a wider prisoner swap deal in which 183 Palestinian prisoners, including 18 sentenced to life and 54 serving lengthy prison terms, are expected to be freed in exchange for three Israeli captives. A majority of the Palestinian detainees—111—were arrested following the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel.