Jubilant crowds gathered in Beitunia, a city in the West Bank, on Monday to greet 90 Palestinian prisoners released from an Israeli prison as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The prisoners were welcomed with cheers, fireworks, and shouts of “God is great” as they stepped off buses following their release.
The event marks the first step in a fragile ceasefire agreement that began at 11:15 a.m. local time. After 15 months of intense conflict, the deal offers a glimmer of hope for lasting peace, though the truce remains tenuous.
Despite the release taking place well after midnight, large crowds gathered to greet their relatives as they departed the prison, embracing them in celebration.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel is set to release another 2,000 Palestinian prisoners over the next six weeks. In exchange, Hamas is expected to free 33 Israeli hostages held in Gaza, with the first three released on Sunday afternoon. The hostages — Romi Gonen, 24, Emily Damari, 28, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31 — were handed over to the Red Cross and greeted by Israeli military personnel before being taken for medical evaluations.
While Monday’s releases marked a significant moment, around 100 hostages remain in Gaza, with reports suggesting that 60 of them are still alive. The ceasefire comes in the aftermath of Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, which killed about 1,200 people and took roughly 250 others captive.
In response, Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza that has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in the region.