International Desk : At least 39 Palestinian detainees were released from Israeli prisons in exchange for a group of hostages held by Hamas.

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They are accused of a range of offences, from throwing stones to attempted murder. Some were convicted while others were awaiting trial.

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The group of 24 women and 15 teenage boys was released across the Beituniya checkpoint in the occupied West Bank.

According to Israel's prison service they will then be allowed to return home.

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The detainees were chosen from a list of 300 women and minors compiled by Israel.

Less than a quarter of those on the list have been convicted - the vast majority are being held on remand while awaiting trial. Most of those listed are teenage boys - 40% of them under the age of 18. There is also one teenage girl and 32 women.

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Earlier, the road by Beituniya checkpoint, near Ramallah, was sharp with the smell of tear gas. Groups of Palestinian men and boys faced the Israeli army lining up on the road ahead.

Hamas took more than 200 hostages during a cross-border attack on southern Israel on 7 October in which 1,200 people were killed.

Human rights organisations say the number of Palestinians held without charge in Israeli jails has shot up since the 7 October attacks.

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There are now thought to be more than 6,000 Palestinians held by Israel on security grounds - many still awaiting trial.

Almost every Palestinian family in the West Bank is thought to have had a relative detained by Israel at some point in the past - often in jails inside Israel, making it difficult or impossible for their relatives to visit.

Sun News/MR

Palestinian detainees released prisons hostages Hamas

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