Celebrations erupted across Ramallah, West Bank, on Saturday following the release of 200 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
Videos captured the scenes as the freed prisoners, dressed in gray uniforms and blue gloves, were hoisted onto the shoulders of supporters. People waved Palestinian flags, and many embraced the former detainees.
الأسرى الفلسطينيين يهتفون لكتائب القسام وحماس من وسط رام الله بالضفة الغربية المحتلة 🇵🇸🔻 pic.twitter.com/9YPxMfNqqt
— غزة الآن – Gaza Now (@nowgnna) January 25, 2025
The Israeli Prison Service confirmed the release of the prisoners as part of a larger ceasefire agreement, which also included the release of hostages.
A spokesperson for the service stated that the release was carried out under political agreements to secure the release of hostages, in full coordination with various security agencies, CNN Arabic reported.
حُملوا على الأكتاف.. استقبال جماهيري واحتفاء شعبي كبير بالأسرى الفلسطينيين المفرج عنهم بموجب صفقة التبادل من أصحاب المحكوميات العالية والمؤبدات في رام الله#حرب_غزة #الأخبار pic.twitter.com/MdPoMknqrf
— قناة الجزيرة (@AJArabic) January 25, 2025
The prisoners were transferred from Ofer Prison to various locations in the West Bank. In addition, prisoners held at Ktzi’ot Prison in the Negev Desert were moved to the Kerem Shalom crossing in the south.
The Qatari-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas put an end to the 15-month-long Israeli war on Gaza, which resulted in the death of over 47,000 Palestinians.