Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners to cheering crowds in the West Bank, following the return of three Israeli hostages from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip.
Some supporters were seen climbing on top of a bus carrying detainees from Israel's Ofer prison on the outskirts of Ramallah in the West Bank and waving Hamas flags, the Associated Press reported. All of those released were women and teenagers who had been detained on charges related to Israeli national security.
Freed political leader Khalida said: “There is a double feeling that we are living in. On the one hand, this sense of freedom that we are grateful for, and on the other hand, this sense of freedom that so many Palestinians are grateful for.'' This is the pain of losing a martyr.” Jarrah told the news agency.
The 62-year-old is a leading member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which the United States has designated as a terrorist organization. Jarrah has been in and out of Israeli prisons in recent years, and Human Rights Watch has previously argued that her arrest was part of Israel's broader crackdown on nonviolent political opposition.
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A crowd gathers around a bus carrying released Palestinian prisoners of war as it arrives in the West Bank city of Beitnia in the early morning hours of Monday, January 20, 2025. (AP/Leo Correa)
Baraa al-Fuka, 22, hugged her family as she stepped out of the white Red Cross bus into a sea of cheering Palestinians.
A medical student at Al-Quds University in East Jerusalem, she had spent about six months in prison before her arrest. She told The Associated Press that she is being held under administrative detention, a policy of indefinite imprisonment without formal charges or trial.
“Thank God I'm here with my family and I'm happy,” she said. “But my joy is limited because so many of us Palestinians are being tortured and abused. Our people in Gaza are suffering. God willing, we will also strive to free them.”
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Palestinian prisoners are greeted as they step off a bus after being released from an Israeli prison in the West Bank city of Beituniya. (AP/Leo Correa)
The ceasefire and hostage agreement calls for Israel to release approximately 2,000 prisoners and detainees from the West Bank and Gaza in exchange for Hamas' release of 33 Israeli hostages held in Gaza over the next six weeks. It includes the ability to liberate people.
The first three hostages released by Hamas on Sunday were all young women, identified as Doron Steinbrecher, 31. Romi Gonen, 24 years old. and Emily Damali (28).
Palestinians hold up posters with photos of late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh as they wait for the arrival of released Palestinian prisoners of war in the West Bank city of Beitnia on Sunday, January 19. (AP/Leo Correa)
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“These men, who have endured such torture at the hands of Hamas terrorists, will undergo a series of medical tests in the coming days in order to prepare appropriate treatment,” said Ishak Kreis, director of Israel's Sheba Medical Center. “It will be.”
Fox News' Louis Casiano and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
