Palestinian Prisoners Return Amid Emotional Reunions in West Bank

IQNA – A total of 90 Palestinian women and children were released from Israeli prisons early Monday as part of a prisoner exchange tied to the Hamas-Israel ceasefire.

The returnees were greeted by jubilant crowds in Ramallah, marking the first exchange since the agreement came into effect. The group’s release followed the freeing of three Israeli captives in Gaza several hours earlier. 

Buses operated by the Red Cross arrived in Ramallah at around 1 a.m. local time (2300 GMT), carrying 69 women and 21 teenage boys, some as young as 12.

Family members, friends, and supporters gathered by the thousands to welcome them home despite warnings from Israeli authorities against public celebrations. 

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Prominent among the released was Khalida Jarrar, a senior figure in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Jarrar, 62, had spent six months in solitary confinement under administrative detention, a policy allowing imprisonment without formal charges or trial.

Palestinian journalist Bushra al-Tawil, detained since March 2024, was also released. 

Speaking after her release, Tawil recounted the ordeal of waiting for freedom, saying, “The wait was extremely hard. But thank God, we were certain that at any moment we would be released.”

She expressed hope for her father’s imminent release, as he is also expected to be freed as part of the ongoing prisoner exchange. 

Among those welcoming the prisoners, Amanda Abu Sharkh from Ramallah described the emotional significance of the event, stating, “All the prisoners being released today feel like family to us.”

Muhammad, 20, who was recently freed from Israeli detention, shared his joy, highlighting the suffering of many who remain incarcerated, including women and children. 

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This exchange represents the initial phase of the ceasefire agreement, with further negotiations expected.

Hamas has pledged to release 33 Israeli captives over the coming weeks, while estimates suggest that up to 2,000 Palestinians could be freed. 

The Israeli aggression on Gaza since October 7, has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, and displaced nearly 90 percent of Gaza’s population. 

Source: Agencies