Newly released Palestinian prisoners were cheered on by a crowd outside the European Hospital near Khan Younis in Gaza on Saturday (February 1) hours after their release as part of the ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, Reuters reports.
The Palestinian militant group handed over three Israeli hostages earlier in the day, leading to dozens of Palestinian prisoners and detainees being released in exchange as part of the latest stage of a truce aimed at ending the 15-month war in Gaza.
Around 183 Palestinian prisoners and detainees were released in the exchange. Among them, 150 arrived in Gaza while 32 got off a bus in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, where they were greeted by large crowds.
One freed prisoner will be exiled to Egypt, according to the Hamas prisoners' media office.
After Saturday's exchange, Israel will have released 583 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including militants serving life sentences for deadly attacks as well as some detained during the war but not charged.