Boy, 14, and freelance reporter among Palestinians freed

Thirty Palestinian prisoners were released by Israel on Tuesday night as part of the truce deal with Hamas.

They include "15 minors and 15 women", a spokesman for Qatar's foreign ministry said.

Among those released are Marwat al-Azza, a freelance journalist who had previously worked with US broadcaster NBC, and a 14-year-old boy.

They were freed as 10 Israeli and two foreign hostages were released by Hamas in Gaza.

The Israeli prison service said the prisoners had been released from Ofer prison in the occupied West Bank and the Jerusalem Detention Center.

Tuesday was the fifth day of the truce between Israel and Hamas, after a 48-hour extension was agreed yesterday.

Ms al-Azza, 45, was arrested earlier this month in East Jerusalem on suspicion of inciting terrorism and identifying with a terrorist organisation in relation to social media posts she made about Hamas's attack on 7 October, which killed about 1,200 Israelis.

NBC cut ties with her following her arrest.

Another prisoner released by Israel was named by Al Jazeera as Ahmed Salayme, 14. Last May, UK-based website Middle East Eye reported that the teenager was arrested on charges of throwing stones in East Jerusalem.

In an interview upon his release, he told Al Jazeera that Israeli prison officers carried out "a number of beatings" including on female inmates, on the day the war started on 7 October.

He added that he was told not to celebrate his release: "I'm not allowed to leave my house, raise any signs or banners, use a megaphone. And if I break any of these rules I will be taken back," he said.

His mother told Al Jazeera Israeli authorities had searched the family home several times ahead of her son's release and said she was afraid her son could be rearrested at any moment.

Reuters news agency showed images of Palestinians cheering just outside Ofer prison at the Beitunia checkpoint as the new batch of prisoners were driven past on buses marked with the the International Red Cross sign.

Israel's national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir has banned Palestinians from celebrating the prisoners' release, according to Israeli media.

"My instructions are clear: there are to be no expressions of joy. Expressions of joy are equivalent to backing terrorism," Mr Ben Gvir was quoted as saying.

Since Friday, a total of 180 Palestinians - mostly women and teenage boys - have been released from Israeli jails as part of the truce.

They were chosen from an original list of 300 Palestinians compiled by Israel and had been accused of a range of offences, from throwing stones to incitement to attempted murder.

Fewer than a quarter of those on the list had been convicted - the vast majority were being held on remand while awaiting trial.

Under the terms of the truce, three Palestinians are being freed in exchange for each Israeli hostage returned from Gaza.