Tears and Cheers as 90 Palestinian Women and Children Released from Israeli Prisons
Emotional Reunions in the West Bank as Freed Prisoners Return Home
A wave of joy and relief swept through the occupied West Bank as 90 Palestinian prisoners were released from Israeli jails, marking the first exchange under the Hamas-Israel ceasefire agreement. Relatives, friends, and supporters gathered in large numbers to celebrate their return following the release of three Israeli captives in Gaza.
At approximately 1 a.m. local time on Monday (23:00 GMT), Red Cross buses carrying the released Palestinians arrived in Ramallah, where they were met by thousands of emotional supporters despite Israeli warnings against public celebrations. Among those freed were 69 women and 21 teenage boys—some as young as 12—from the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.
One of the notable prisoners released was 62-year-old Khalida Jarrar, a prominent figure in the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. She had spent six months in solitary confinement under Israel’s “administrative detention” policy, which allows indefinite imprisonment without formal charges or a court verdict.
A Joyous Homecoming
The city of Ramallah erupted in celebration as supporters lifted returning prisoners onto their shoulders while waving flags of various Palestinian factions, including Fatah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad. Many in attendance expressed deep solidarity with the freed detainees, viewing their release as a moment of collective triumph.
Among the released was journalist Bushra al-Tawil, who had been jailed since March 2024. Recalling her journey to freedom, she described the long hours of waiting in Israeli prisons before finally being informed of her release.
“The wait was extremely difficult, but we never lost hope. We knew that freedom was coming,” Tawil shared. She also revealed that her father, who remains incarcerated in an Israeli prison, is expected to be released soon as part of the ongoing exchange deal.
Families Reunited, Hope Rekindled
Hundreds of Palestinians, including 23-year-old Amanda Abu Sharkh from Ramallah, gathered to welcome the released prisoners, embracing them as family. “They are all part of us, even if we are not related by blood,” she told AFP.
Muhammad, a 20-year-old who was recently freed from Israel’s Ofer Prison, described his joy at seeing families reunited. “There are so many innocent people—children and women—still imprisoned. This moment gives us hope,” he said.
Prisoner Swap: The First in Over a Year
This marks the first prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel since November 2023. The exact number of Palestinians set for release remains uncertain, with estimates ranging from 1,000 to nearly 2,000 as part of the broader ceasefire deal.
Under the agreement, Hamas is expected to release a total of 33 Israeli captives over a 42-day period, with the next group expected to be freed on Saturday. Negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire are set to begin in two weeks.
Ongoing Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis
Since the war erupted on October 7, more than 46,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, and nearly 90 percent of Gaza’s population has been forcibly displaced due to Israeli military operations and evacuation orders. The ceasefire deal offers a temporary respite, but uncertainty looms over the next steps in the conflict and the fate of those still imprisoned on both sides.