In accordance with a ceasefire agreement for Gaza, Israeli and Palestinian Hamas exchanged hostages and prisoners on Saturday. However, a last-minute disagreement prevented hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from returning to the destroyed northern part of Gaza.
Four Israeli women hostages who had been freed after more than 15 months of captivity in Gaza have returned to Israel as part of the second exchange since the truce went into force last Sunday. All of the ladies were soldiers.
Israel’s prison authorities acknowledged the release of 200 inmates it referred to as “terrorists” in return.
The Israeli captives, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa and Naama Levy, all aged 20, and Liri Albag, 19, waved, smiled, and gave thumbs up as they were paraded on a stage in Gaza City.
Masked and armed Hamas flanked them during a slick ceremony watched by hundreds of residents.
In Tel Aviv, where a crowd gathered to watch their release on a large TV screen at a plaza known as Hostage Square, there were tears of joy, applause and a loud cheer as Israeli flags waved.
After their handover to the Red Cross, Israel’s military said the women were transferred back into Israel and “reunited with their parents”.
They were later taken by military helicopter to the Rabin Medical Centre, where they would receive “comprehensive medical care, including psychological support”, according to Israel’s health ministry.
The liberated Palestinians were transported by buses from Ktziot jail in the Negev desert and Ofer prison in the occupied West Bank.
Crowds of Palestinians erupted in celebration when scores of the ex-inmates arrived in the West Bank city of Ramallah, hoisting many of them over their shoulders, according to an AFP journalist.
The Palestinian Prisoners Club advocacy group said among those to be released was Mohammed al-Tous, 69, who has spent the longest continuous period in Israeli detention.
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