Hamas urges Trump to meet and 'respect' freed Palestinian prisoners
The Hindu
Hamas urges Trump to meet freed Palestinian prisoners, following his meeting with Israeli hostages, amid ongoing truce.
Hamas on Friday (March 7, 2025) urged U.S. President Donald Trump to meet with Palestinian prisoners freed during the ongoing truce in Gaza, following his meeting with released Israeli hostages the day before.
Also Read | Trump warns Hamas, Gaza ‘you are dead’ if hostages not freed
Just as he spoke of the "unbearable suffering" of Israeli hostages, the U.S. President should "show the same level of respect to freed Palestinian political prisoners and allocate time to meet and listen to their stories", senior Hamas leader Basem Naim wrote in an open letter addressed to Mr. Trump.
More than 9,500 Palestinian prisoners were currently being held in Israeli prisons, he said.
On Thursday, Mr. Trump met in the Oval Office with eight former Israeli hostages who were released as part of the truce agreement that took effect on January 19.
The first phase of the agreement led to the release of 33 hostages, including eight who were deceased, in exchange for about 1,800 Palestinian detainees.
In late November 2023, 105 hostages had already been freed during a one-week truce in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.
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