Palestinians Celebrate Release of Prisoners by Israel
BEITUNIA, West Bank — Loud cheers filled the air on Monday as Israel released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners after a Gaza ceasefire deal. The agreement included an exchange in which Hamas freed several Israeli hostages, marking a major moment in the region’s ongoing conflict. Excited crowds gathered in Beitunia in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and in Khan Younis in Gaza to welcome the released prisoners. People waved flags and flashed V-for-victory signs while the freed men and women stepped off buses from the International Committee of the Red Cross. In Beitunia, supporters wrapped the returnees in traditional keffiyeh scarves to celebrate their national pride. Many lifted the prisoners onto their shoulders, while others simply sat down in relief, visibly drained from their ordeal. Kamal Abu Shanab, a 51-year-old Fatah member from Tulkarem, described the painful experience of imprisonment. He said the years behind bars brought endless hunger, harsh treatment, and deep emotional scars. “It was an indescribable journey of suffering — filled with oppression, torture, and endless struggle,” he shared, his voice heavy with emotion. As families reunited, the atmosphere blended joy, exhaustion, and hope. The prisoner release, part of the Gaza truce, brought a rare moment of unity for many Palestinians who continue to dream of freedom and peace. His face looked gaunt and tired. He said he lost 139 pounds (59 kilograms) while in prison. “We don’t even recognize him anymore. He’s not the person we once knew. Our uncle doesn’t look like our uncle,” said his niece, Farah Abu Shanab. Her words reflected the shock and sadness his family felt after seeing him again. The recent releases included about 1,700 Palestinians. Israeli troops had taken them from Gaza during the 2-year war and held them without charge. Their families waited anxiously for their return, hoping for justice and peace. In addition, Israel freed 250 Palestinians who had received prison sentences. Most of them faced convictions for deadly attacks on Israelis many years ago, while others served time for lesser crimes, according to Israel’s Justice Ministry. Out of these, Israel exiled 154 individuals and sent them to neighboring Egypt. Officials in Egypt said they would later transfer them to third countries. Meanwhile, the remaining freed individuals returned to their homes in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza. Their families welcomed them with tears, prayers, and hope for a better future. A special moment The releases hit everyone hard. Israelis feel pain and anger—some of the released men once killed civilians and soldiers. Palestinians feel a mix of relief, joy, and pride. Almost every family knows someone locked up by Israel, usually a young man. For Israelis, these men represent terror. For Palestinians, they represent courage. They see them as people who refused to give in to decades of occupation. Families remember the long nights worrying about them. Friends remember the fear, the uncertainty, the constant hope that they would come home. In Khan Younis, the streets overflowed with life. People hugged, laughed, cried, and even fired guns into the air. The freed men walked out in gray jumpsuits, exhausted but alive. Families rushed to guide them to hospitals, to check their bodies, to make sure they were okay. At the same time, soldiers still raid homes, shelters, and checkpoints. Families run from town to town, searching for safety while fear chases them. Pain, anger, and grief sit heavy in every street. And yet, in the midst of it all, hope flickers—small, stubborn, and alive. A Palestinian prisoner makes the victory sign after being released from an Israeli prison as part of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, upon his arrival in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Monday. Many families had no idea their relatives faced detention. Moreover, it often took months to confirm if Israel held them. Sometimes, families never received confirmation at all. Initially, Israel passed laws at the start of the war. These laws allowed authorities to hold Palestinians for months as “unlawful combatants” without judicial review or lawyer access. Consequently, detainees often faced legal uncertainty and emotional distress. Human rights organizations, the U.N., and former detainees report frequent abuse in detention centers. For example, beatings, poor food, and harsh conditions occur routinely. In addition, advocates warn that these practices affect mental and physical health. Israel insists it follows prison standards under law. Furthermore, authorities claim they investigate every reported violation. Still, roughly 1,300 Palestinians from Gaza remain in Israeli custody, according to Hamoked’s September count. Alerts to avoid celebrating Irrespective of Israeli threats, there were celebrations throughout West Bank. The government had issued a flyer telling everybody who backed up the so-called terrorist groups risked being arrested. However, Palestinians kept on amassing. Groups of people spread the hills near Ofer Prison to make it clear that they supported it. Soon, an armored Israeli vehicle came in their direction and used tear gas and rubber bullets. People started to run as much as they could in all directions as the drones flew by. In the meantime, Israeli military declined to respond to questions of the reporters. Nevertheless, the eyewitnesses on the ground reported tense moments and increasing tension. The scenario underscores the fact that there are prolonged battles and tensions in the area. Who is included on the list? Hamas published a list of Gaza detainees who lately became liberated including two women, six teenagers under 18 years, and approximately 30 men over 60 years. All in all, there are 250 convicted prisoners that fall between the age of 19 and 64. They include 159 that are affiliated to the political party Fatah that is the governing party of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and 63 affiliated to Hamas. The other detainees are in the other groups, or do not belong to any political group. A large number of these people were apprehended throughout the first days of the 21 st century and that is the time the Second Intifada was undertaken as a Palestinian revolt due to the