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In an emotional scene early this morning, a jubilant crowd gathered in the West Bank as two buses carrying Palestinian prisoners passed through Beituniya on their way to Ramallah. The prisoners, released from the Israeli Ofer detention center, waved to hundreds of supporters who cheered, waved flags, and lit fireworks to celebrate their return. Many young people in the crowd chanted in support of Hamas’s military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades.
This moment marked the first exchange under the recently brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, aimed at ending a 15-month-long conflict. Earlier, Israel confirmed the release of 90 Palestinian prisoners, primarily women and children, as part of the deal. This followed Hamas’s release of three Israeli women who had been held hostage in Gaza for 471 days.
Among those freed from Israeli detention was Khalida Jarrar, a prominent member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (FPLP), which Israel, the U.S., and the EU classify as a terrorist organization. Also released were two sisters of Saleh al-Arouri, a senior Hamas leader killed in a 2024 airstrike attributed to Israel.
As the buses carrying prisoners arrived in Ramallah, other detainees were escorted directly to their homes in Jerusalem, where similar celebrations likely unfolded. Members of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent accompanied the released prisoners on their journey.
This exchange is the first of several phases outlined in the ceasefire agreement. The truce suspends hostilities that began with Hamas’s surprise attack on southern Israel in October 2023. In total, the agreement anticipates the release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for roughly 1,900 Palestinians held in Israeli detention centers. The next phase of this exchange is scheduled for Saturday night.
The success of this fragile truce will likely depend on whether both sides adhere to the terms amid high tensions and unresolved questions about Gaza’s future governance.
Source: AMPE
