90 Palestinian women and children released from Israeli prisons are greeted with tears and hugs Gaza news

90 Palestinians have been freed from Israeli prisons and greeted by large crowds of relatives, friends and supporters returning home to the occupied West Bank in the first prisoner exchange. Hamas-Israel ceasefire after its release Three Israelis captured in Gaza.

At approximately 1 a.m. local time (23:00 GMT) on Monday, the Red Cross Buses carrying 90 Palestinian prisoners They arrived in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, despite warnings from Israeli forces that the celebrations would not be allowed.

Among the freed Palestinians are 69 women and 21 teenage boys from the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.

Among them was 62-year-old Khalida Jarrar, a leftist member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. He has been held in solitary confinement for six months under “administrative detention,” which allows Israeli authorities to detain suspects indefinitely without charge or trial. judgment.

Crowds in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah carried many of the returned prisoners on their shoulders in a show of emotional support as others shouted and whistled. Some of the participants in the meeting carried the flags of Fatah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other armed resistance groups.

Seven hours ago, three Israeli captive women between the ages of 20 and 30 were released in Gaza.

Among the prisoners released on Monday was Palestinian journalist Bushra al-Tawil, who was arrested in Israel in March 2024.

Tawil said his journey began at 3 a.m. Sunday (01:00 GMT), when he was taken from another Israeli prison before being released. In the second prison, he was joined by other Palestinians awaiting release.

“The wait was very difficult. But thanks to God, we were sure that we would be released at any moment,” he said.

Tawil said that his father, who is in Israeli prison, will be released soon.

“I was worried about him. He is still a prisoner, but I have just received the good news that he will be released under this agreement,” he added.

Amanda Abu Sharkh, 23, from Ramallah, was among the hundreds who gathered to greet the freed prisoners.

“We came here today to witness and feel the emotions, just like the families of the released prisoners,” said Abu Sharkh.

“All prisoners released today feel like family to us. Although they are not blood relatives, they are a part of us,” he told AFP news agency.

20-year-old Mohammad said that he came from Ramallah with his friends as soon as he heard that the prisoners would be released.

Recently released from Israel’s Ofer prison, he expressed “great joy” at the prospect of families being reunited.

“I know a lot of people in prison, there are innocent people, children and women,” he said.

The prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel is the first since November 2023.

The exact number of Palestinians to be released as part of the ceasefire agreement is still unknown, but has been reported to be between 1,000 and 2,000.

In the first phase of the deal, Hamas is expected to return a total of 33 Israeli prisoners over the next 42 days – the next release will be on Saturday.

The second round of ceasefire talks should begin in two weeks.

More than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began on October 7, and nearly 90 percent of Gaza’s population has been displaced by Israeli evacuation orders and attacks.