Tufan al-Ahrar Deal 2025: 1,777 Palestinian Prisoners Freed for 33 Israelis

On 19 January 2025 the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement took effect, including the largest exchange since “Wafa al-Ahrar”: through seven batches Israel freed 1,777 Palestinian prisoners, in return for 33 Israelis released by the resistance in Gaza, 25 of them alive and eight bodies. The resistance named the deal “Tufan al-Ahrar” (Flood of the Free). ^[1][2]

Contents

1. The deal at a glance
2. The agreement and the first phase
3. The batches
4. Notable prisoners freed
5. Timeline
6. Frequently asked questions about the January 2025 “Tufan al-Ahrar” exchange

The deal at a glance

^[1][2]

The agreement and the first phase

Qatar announced the agreement, and it took effect on Sunday 19 January 2025. The sources we reviewed cover its first phase, which lasted six weeks. According to the Prisoners’ Media Office 1,737 prisoners were due to be freed, 296 of them serving life sentences, in return for 33 Israelis, at a rate of 30 Palestinian prisoners per Israeli. ^[1]

The same page says Israel committed to freeing 120 women and children, and that 189 prisoners were to be deported to Gaza or abroad, plus 47 former “Wafa al-Ahrar” prisoners, making 236 deportees in all. ^[1]

The batches

The batches in the table add up to 1,777, matching the tally published by Al Jazeera Net. ^[2]

Notable prisoners freed

The fourth batch, according to Al Jazeera Net, included a number of West Bank prisoners with high sentences, among them Imran al-Khatib (a life sentence and 12 years, from Jabalia camp), Basel Aref (two life sentences and 52 years), Shadi Amouri from Jenin camp (a life sentence and 20 years) and Ashraf Abu Srour from Bethlehem (a life sentence). The list said seven of those with high sentences were being deported to Gaza, among them Amouri and Abu Srour. ^[3]

Timeline

Frequently asked questions about the January 2025 “Tufan al-Ahrar” exchange

How many prisoners were freed in the Tufan al-Ahrar deal?

1,777 Palestinian prisoners, plus one Jordanian prisoner, over seven batches. ^[2]

How many Israelis were released?

33, of whom 25 were alive and eight were bodies. ^[2]

How many life-sentence prisoners were freed?

285 according to Al Jazeera Net. ^[2]

How many Gaza detainees held after 7 October were freed?

1,046. ^[2]

When did it start?

Sunday 19 January 2025. ^[1]

Sources and references

1. Al Jazeera Net, “The ‘Tufan al-Ahrar’ deal in numbers”, 19 January 2025 (in Arabic).
2. Al Jazeera Net, “10,000 years behind bars: the first phase ends the suffering of 1,777 Palestinian prisoners”, 28 February 2025 (in Arabic).
3. Al Jazeera Net, “Mostly from Fatah: the most prominent prisoners freed in the fourth batch”, 1 February 2025 (in Arabic).
4. Al Jazeera Net, “Al-Qassam to free six Israelis on Saturday in return for 602 Palestinian prisoners”, 21 February 2025 (in Arabic).
5. Al Jazeera Net, “Israel delays the release of the seventh batch of prisoners”, 22 February 2025 (in Arabic).