Jubilant Welcome for Freed Prisoners
Beituna, in the West Bank, witnessed an outpouring of joy as the first 90 Palestinian prisoners released by Israel arrived after the truce with Hamas took effect.
On Monday morning, the buses carrying the freed prisoners entered the usually quiet Ramallah suburb, greeted by hundreds of people waiting with bated breath.
As the bus doors opened, the crowd erupted in a frenzy of tears, singing, hugs, and fireworks, shattering the quiet morning atmosphere.
A Prisoner’s Joyful Return
Palestinian journalist Bushra al-Tawil was among the 90 released in the first phase of the truce between Israel and Hamas, a deal that saw three Israeli hostages freed by Hamas on Sunday afternoon.
The majority of those freed were women and children, exchanged for the Israeli hostages held in Gaza by Hamas.
Bushra al-Tawil expressed her relief and gratitude, saying, “The wait was extremely difficult. But we were sure that one day we would be released.”
Her father, who remains imprisoned, will also be released within the framework of the agreement.
Gathering for a Joyous Occasion
On a hill overlooking the Israeli prison of Ofer, many people gathered around bonfires, anxiously awaiting the arrival of the prisoners.
Amanda Abu Charkh, 23, who came from Ramallah with her parents, said, “We came here to commune with all the families of the prisoners.”
Mohamad, a 20-year-old young man recently freed from Ofer himself, was overwhelmed with emotion, saying, “I know a lot of people in prison, there are innocent people, children and women.”
A Moment of Celebration and Anticipation
An 18-year-old girl anxiously waited for her mother, detained in January 2024 at her home in the northern West Bank.
Ouday, a man who refused to give his last name, shared a similar story of his son’s imprisonment and expressed his solidarity with the families of the released prisoners, saying, “You can’t just think about yourself or your own child.”
About 1,900 Palestinians will be released in total within the next 42 days, in exchange for 33 Israeli hostages.
FOUNTAIN: AFP