On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, the occupation authorities released 642 prisoners in the seventh and final batch of the first phase of the prisoner exchange deal. These prisoners were originally supposed to be released on Saturday the 22nd of February, but at the last moment, the occupation authorities refused to release them and returned them to their cells under harsh conditions.

This batch included the release of 151 prisoners serving life sentences or long-term sentences. Among them, 50 prisoners were sentenced to life imprisonment, 60 had high sentences, and 41 were former prisoners from the "Wafa al-Ahrar" deal who had been rearrested. Additionally, 42 prisoners were released to the West Bank and Jerusalem, while 12 were released to the Gaza Strip. These 12 had been detained before October 7. Furthermore, 97 prisoners were deported outside Palestine, with Egypt being their first destination.

Additionally, 491 prisoners from Gaza, who had been detained after October 7, were released. The first batch was freed on February 26, 2025, while the second batch—including women and children—was released on February 27, 2025. This second group included 44 children and two female detainees.

The released prisoners reported experiencing severe physical and psychological torture during their days in detention between Saturday—when they were initially supposed to be released—and Wednesday, when they were actually freed. On multiple occasions, they were taken onto buses for release, only to be returned to their cells, which caused significant psychological distress.

The prisoners were released in poor health conditions, with many having lost significant weight, and some bearing visible signs of torture. Among the released were two female detainees from Gaza who had spent months in Damon Prison, where they were subjected to various forms of physical and psychological torture. They were held in complete isolation from the outside world, denied visits from lawyers, and had no information about their families throughout their detention, which took place amid the ongoing genocide.

As part of the occupation’s restrictive measures against released prisoners and their families, occupation forces raided the homes of prisoners set for release, threatening their families and banning any celebrations, including the distribution of sweets and coffee. Only immediate family members were allowed to be there. In occupied Jerusalem, the released prisoners were taken to their homes while still shackled, with their handcuffs only removed at their doorsteps—an act aimed at asserting control over the Palestinian people and enforcing punitive, retaliatory measures against Palestinian prisoners and their families.