Palestinians celebrate return of prisoners after exchange with Israel

O A group of 39 prisoners – 24 women and 15 teenagers – who were released by Israel this Friday, under the truce agreement in the Gaza Strip, were welcomed to a party by Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

The 39 prisoners, including 17 minors, were taken from three prisons, two in the West Bank and one in Israel, and transferred to the Israeli prison of Ofer in the West Bank before their release.

Twenty-eight were later left in the West Bank, while the other 11 were taken to East Jerusalem, said the Prisoners’ Club, a non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to Palestinian prisoners.

In the West Bank, hundreds of people were waiting for the Palestinians, where, according to the Associated Press (AP), they celebrated with music and fireworks. In Jerusalem, the Israeli police announced during the day that they were banning any celebration of the release of prisoners.

The now freed Palestinians were detained for the crimes of threatening security, illegal entry into Israel, throwing stones, supporting terrorism and associating with hostile/unknown organizations, according to Al Jazeera.

It should be noted that the truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza came into force in the early hours of today, the first sign of a truce after weeks of war.

During this four-day renewable pause, a total of 50 Israeli hostages held in Gaza are expected to be released, as well as 150 Palestinian detainees.

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