Ramallah, West Bank – Around 100 Palestinian prisoners released by Israel on Saturday were welcomed in Ramallah, West Bank, with a reception to celebrate their return.
The freed individuals arrived on buses at a designated center, where hundreds of people, including jubilant family members, gathered to greet them. Many of the returning prisoners were lifted onto shoulders amid cheers and celebrations.
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The prisoners are part of a group of 200 individuals released by Israel as part of a second exchange of hostages under a ceasefire agreement with Hamas. In return, Hamas released four Israeli female soldiers in good health, who are now receiving treatment at an Israeli hospital.
Details of the Prisoners Released
According to the Commission of Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners, 120 of the released prisoners were serving life sentences. The breakdown of affiliations among the released includes:
- 81 members of Hamas
- 23 from Islamic Jihad
- 13 from Fatah
- 2 from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
- 1 from the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Among those freed was Mohamed Ahmed Abdel Hamid Al Tus, aged 69, the longest-serving Palestinian prisoner in Israeli custody since 1985. The youngest released was Saiz Nasser Mahmud Arar, aged 15.
Deportation and Future Transfers
Of the released prisoners, 70 will be deported, including Al Tus. He is expected to be transferred from Egypt to Algeria, Turkey, or Tunisia, according to Ameen Shoman, head of the West Bank’s Prisoners Commission.
Further Developments in the Exchange
A Hamas political bureau member stated that if the prisoner exchange continues smoothly, the group will provide Israel with a list of living and deceased hostages still held in Gaza.
As of now, 87 of the 251 hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attacks remain in Gaza. Israeli officials estimate that at least 35 hostages are dead, though the actual number could be higher, leading to demands for a full accounting as part of the ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
The prisoners were brought to the Ramallah Recreational Center, where crowds waved Palestinian, Fatah, and Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine flags. Dressed in gray tracksuits with shaved heads, the released prisoners were carried through the cheering crowd, warmly embraced by loved ones and supporters.
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