The air was thick with emotion as hundreds of freed Palestinian prisoners and detainees were joyfully welcomed by their families in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Tears of relief and shouts of jubilation marked their return, a moment of profound reunion after their release by Israel.
The exchange saw the release of approximately 250 prisoners convicted of serious offenses, including murder and attacks on Israelis. Alongside them, around 1,700 detainees from Gaza, held without charge, were also freed. For many, the return brought immense happiness, though some prisoners appeared frail, their bodies showing the strain of their confinement.
“He is ready to embrace freedom,” shared Amro Abdullah, a 24-year-old who eagerly awaited his cousin Rashid Omar, 48, who had been serving a life sentence for murder. “I want peace,” he added. “I want to live a happy life, safe and peaceful, without occupation and without restrictions.”
The recent release is part of a broader exchange that included the liberation of 20 Israeli hostages and the return of four deceased hostages by Hamas, following the group’s attacks on southern Israel in October 2023. This exchange has been viewed as a significant step towards de-escalating the ongoing conflict.
In Gaza, families gathered at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, hoping for reunions. A field hospital was set up nearby to receive the returning detainees. Muhammad Hasan Saeed Dawood, 50, expressed his overwhelming joy: “We call it a national holiday, that our detainees are being released despite the cost of the war, the martyrs, the injured, and the destruction in Gaza.”
Concerns were raised by medics and family members about alleged mistreatment of prisoners prior to their release. Reports from organizations like the Palestinian Prisoners Club and past BBC investigations have highlighted claims of starvation and torture within Israeli detention facilities. While the BBC cannot independently verify all claims, the circumstances surrounding these releases underscore the deep emotional toll and complex realities faced by those affected.
Despite the hardships, the sentiment of hope was palpable. “But today gives us hope that there will always be an inevitable freedom, no matter the circumstances,” remarked Aya Shreiteh, 26, from the Palestinian Prisoners Club.
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