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 some 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 for murder and other crimes. I want peace, Mr. Abudullah said, expressing a desire for a safe and happy life without occupation.
Approximately 100 prisoners were released into the West Bank, while many others will be deported with a small number freed into East Jerusalem.
Before the release, Israel expressed a desire to avoid jubilant scenes surrounding previous hostage deals. Many families were reluctant to speak to the media, having reportedly been warned by the Israeli military.
In Gaza, reunification took place at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, where families gathered, filled with hope despite the cost of ongoing conflict. Muhammad Hasan Saeed Dawood described the moment as a national holiday, celebrating despite the backdrop of war.
Healthcare volunteers prepared for the return, with reports indicating that many released prisoners suffered from mistreatment during their detention, leaving them frail and impacted by previous beatings. Their rights were violated in serious ways, stated Aya Shreiteh from the Palestinian Prisoners Club, as the emotional scenes unfolded in Ramallah.
This prisoner and hostage exchange follows escalated violence resulting in significant loss on both sides, marking a glimmer of hope amidst ongoing tensions in the region, aiming to tackle the issues at the heart of the conflict.
