First Group Of Palestinian Prisoners Released By Israel Warmly Welcomed In Betunia

The return of Palestinian prisoners released by Israel. (Source: Mohammad Abu Zaid/WAFA)

JAKARTA - The first wave of Palestinian prisoners released by Israel, as part of the Hamas-Israel ceasefire deal, was warmly welcomed upon arrival in Betunia after being released on Sunday evening local time.

The group consisted of 69 women and 21 children. In detail, 76 detainees are from the West Bank and 14 others are from Jerusalem, quoted from the Palestinian news agency WAFA, Monday, January 20.

Hundreds of people and families of detainees gathered in Betunnia, west of Ramallah, West Bank to welcome their relatives who were released from Ofer Prison.

Hundreds of people cheered, sang, and honked cars as two buses carrying Palestinian security prisoners released from Israeli prison arrived in Betuna, quoted from The Times of Israel.

The ceasefire in Gaza officially took effect on Sunday at 11:15 a.m., after being delayed more than two and a half hours from its original schedule, ending the 15-month war.

The release follows the release of three Israeli hostages earlier, part of the early stages of the gradual ceasefire agreement announced last Wednesday.

Quoted from Reuters, the Israeli military said Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari the three hostages released from Gaza, had reunited with their mother and released a video showing them in good health.

"I want you to tell them: Romi, Doron, and Emily the whole nation hugs you. Welcome home," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a commander by telephone.

At Sheba Medical Center, the women reunited with their families in a long hug that turned from crying to laughter.

They were among the more than 250 kidnapped and 1,200 killed in the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, according to Israeli calculations.

Yesterday, Gaza's health authorities confirmed that the death toll from Palestine since October 2023 had reached 46,913 people. Meanwhile, there were 110,750 injured. The majority of victims were children and women.