A bus carrying Palestinian captives arrived at the West Bank town of Beitunia on Saturday following the handover of Israeli captives in Gaza.
The inmates departed from Ofer prison in the occupied West Bank and arrived at Beitunia near Ramallah, where they were greeted by cheering crowds of relatives.
According to the Hamas Prisoners’ Information Office, this fourth batch included 18 prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment, 54 prisoners with high sentences, and 111 prisoners from the Gaza Strip who were arrested after 7 October 2023.
The Israeli army took strict security measures in an attempt to prevent the gathering of Palestinians. It also closed all the barriers surrounding the city of Ramallah, causing stifling traffic jams.
Israeli soldiers also continued to storm a number of the homes of liberated prisoners and threatened their families in order to prevent any celebrations or displays of joy.
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The release comes after three Israeli captives – Keith Siegel, Ofer Kalderon and Yarden Bibas – were released in two separate locations in Gaza City and Khan Younis.
Hamas erected a stage on Gaza’s harbour seafront for the handing over of the captives, who were told to wave before being taken away in Red Cross cars.
They are now reportedly undergoing medical checks.
Hamas and supporters chanted, “We are the men of Mohammed Deif”, in reference to the Hamas leader who was confirmed dead by the group on Thursday.
‘Complete joy’
Wael Samara, one of the released prisoners, told Middle East Eye he spent 22 years in Israeli prisons, and that the feeling of freedom was indescribable, like a human being born again.
“They treated us harshly during our release as if it was a reaction to our liberation,” he added.
Another prisoner who served 18 years in prison said his joy was priceless.
“Our complete joy when all the prisoners are released,” said Ali Nazzal.
Nazzal spoke to MEE while holding his child for the first time, who was conceived with sperm smuggled from Israeli prisons during his detention.
Mahmoud al-Qadoumi, one of those released, said he spent 23 years in prison.
“I was dead, suspended, this is my rebirth and only today my life began,” he said.
Ceasefire deal
On 15 January, Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas agreed to a ceasefire as part of an effort to bring an end to Israel’s 15-month-long onslaught on the enclave that has killed at least 46,707 Palestinians.
Most of the dead are women and children, and with many bodies buried under the rubble, experts believe the actual toll is much higher.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the Israeli government was “committed to returning all abducted and missing persons”.
Gaza’s health ministry said 50 Palestinian patients went through the Rafah crossing to Egypt on Saturday, after it was opened for the first time in nearly nine months as part of the ceasefire deal.Â
Al-Qahera News showed footage of the first of the 50 evacuees and their 53 companions, including a child with an autoimmune disease, crossing the border into Egypt to receive treatment.
Last Saturday, Israel released 200 Palestinian prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment and other long jail sentences, 70 of whom were deported outside Palestine under the pretext of the security threat they might pose to Israel.
The families of those prisoners confirmed that they had received assurances that facilitating their travel was one of the terms of the exchange deal.
However, Israel did not adhere to this, preventing them from travelling to meet their released family members, and even insulting them.
