Hundreds of freed Palestinian prisoners and detainees have been welcomed with tears and screams of joy as they were released by Israel to be reunited with their families in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. The release involved about 250 prisoners who had been convicted of crimes including murder and deadly attacks against Israelis - and about 1,700 detainees from Gaza who had been held by Israel without charge.
As prisoners exited a Red Cross bus in Ramallah, many draped in traditional Keffiyeh scarves, they looked pale and gaunt, with some struggling to walk. They were freed as part of an exchange in which 20 Israeli hostages and the remains of four deceased hostages were released by Hamas.
He is ready to embrace freedom, said Amro Abdullah, 24, who was waiting for his cousin Rashid Omar, 48, who was arrested in July 2005 and sentenced to life in prison by an Israeli court after being found guilty of murder and other crimes. I want peace, Mr. Abdullah said. I want to live a happy life, safe and peaceful, without occupation and without restrictions.
About 100 prisoners were released into the West Bank, with many others set to be deported and a small number freed into East Jerusalem. In Gaza, families gathered at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in the hope of being reunited with their loved ones. A field hospital was set up to receive them, highlighting the emotional weight of this moment.
The scene was marked with laughter and tears, as many families felt a mix of relief and sorrow. This is a very beautiful feeling - happy, a day of joy, said Muhammad Hasan Saeed Dawood, whose son was arrested by Israeli forces at a checkpoint. We call it a national holiday, that our detainees are being released despite the cost of the war, the martyrs, the injured, and the destruction in Gaza.
Despite the joy, concerns linger regarding the treatment of those released. Reports have emerged about mistreatment in Israeli prisons, with claims of inadequate food and exposure to illness raising questions about the conditions faced by Palestinian detainees.
The recent events are part of a broader context, following a ceasefire linked to an extensive conflict that erupted on October 7, when Hamas conducted attacks leading to Israeli military action and substantial casualties on both sides. The hostage and prisoner exchange marks the beginning stages of negotiations aimed at peace.
This complex narrative reflects the ongoing trauma and resilience of families caught in the crossfires of conflict.
As prisoners exited a Red Cross bus in Ramallah, many draped in traditional Keffiyeh scarves, they looked pale and gaunt, with some struggling to walk. They were freed as part of an exchange in which 20 Israeli hostages and the remains of four deceased hostages were released by Hamas.
He is ready to embrace freedom, said Amro Abdullah, 24, who was waiting for his cousin Rashid Omar, 48, who was arrested in July 2005 and sentenced to life in prison by an Israeli court after being found guilty of murder and other crimes. I want peace, Mr. Abdullah said. I want to live a happy life, safe and peaceful, without occupation and without restrictions.
About 100 prisoners were released into the West Bank, with many others set to be deported and a small number freed into East Jerusalem. In Gaza, families gathered at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in the hope of being reunited with their loved ones. A field hospital was set up to receive them, highlighting the emotional weight of this moment.
The scene was marked with laughter and tears, as many families felt a mix of relief and sorrow. This is a very beautiful feeling - happy, a day of joy, said Muhammad Hasan Saeed Dawood, whose son was arrested by Israeli forces at a checkpoint. We call it a national holiday, that our detainees are being released despite the cost of the war, the martyrs, the injured, and the destruction in Gaza.
Despite the joy, concerns linger regarding the treatment of those released. Reports have emerged about mistreatment in Israeli prisons, with claims of inadequate food and exposure to illness raising questions about the conditions faced by Palestinian detainees.
The recent events are part of a broader context, following a ceasefire linked to an extensive conflict that erupted on October 7, when Hamas conducted attacks leading to Israeli military action and substantial casualties on both sides. The hostage and prisoner exchange marks the beginning stages of negotiations aimed at peace.
This complex narrative reflects the ongoing trauma and resilience of families caught in the crossfires of conflict.
