Hundreds of Palestinians gathered in Gaza and the West Bank to celebrate the return of over 1,900 prisoners freed by Israel in a landmark prisoner swap deal. The release, brokered by the US, saw 20 Israeli hostages freed by Hamas in exchange for the Palestinian prisoners.
As the prisoners stepped off buses in Ramallah and Gaza, they were met with cheers, tears, and warm embraces from their loved ones. Many prisoners looked gaunt and struggled to walk, but their faces lit up with joy as they were reunited with their families. "This is a very beautiful feeling - happy, a day of joy," said Muhammad Hasan Saeed Dawood, whose son was among those released after being detained at a checkpoint.
The release was hailed as a "national holiday" by many Palestinians, who celebrated despite warnings from the Israeli military against public displays of jubilation. In Ramallah, freed prisoners were lifted onto shoulders as crowds chanted and cheered, while in Gaza, families gathered at Nasser Hospital to welcome their loved ones with traditional Keffiyeh scarves and Palestinian flags.
Some released prisoners reported being subjected to beatings and mistreatment while in Israeli custody. Aya Shreiteh from the Palestinian Prisoners Club said, "Their rights were violated in the most serious ways... Most of the prisoners in the past year were subjected to deliberate starvation and exposure to illness." Israel's top court had previously ruled that Palestinian prisoners were not being given adequate food.
The prisoner swap is part of a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the war in Gaza, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions. US President Donald Trump, who brokered the deal, addressed the Israeli parliament, receiving a standing ovation. The agreement marks a significant step towards peace, but challenges remain as negotiations continue over the latter phases of Trump's peace plan.
Credit - BBC News
