39 Palestinian detainees released from Israeli prisons under Gaza hostage deal

Following a four-day truce expired, Friday brought comfort mixed with regret for the families of Palestinian detainees freed by Israel as part of a hostage deal with Hamas.

Thirty-nine Palestinian women and minors arrested on various accusations were released as a part of an agreement negotiated by Qatar, which also saw the release of 13 Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas gunmen during their attack on Israel last month.

“There is no real joy, even this little joy we feel as we wait”, stated Sawsan Bkeer, the mother of 24-year-old Palestinian prisoner Marah Bkeer, who was sentenced to eight years in prison in 2015 on knife and assault charges. Her Jerusalem home was raided by Israeli police.

Bkeer went on to say, “We are still afraid to feel happy and at the same time, we do not have it in us to be happy due to what is happening in Gaza”.

Over the next four days, more than 100 Palestinian inmates are expected to be released, and more may be freed if the truce is extended.

A big crowd, largely young men, greeted liberated detainees in Beitunia, a city near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, by cheering, blaring car horns, and marching in the street with Palestinian flags.

Some in the throng also brandished the flag of the Hamas militant group, which dominates blockaded Gaza, and yelled in favor of Abu Ubaida, the armed wing’s spokesperson.

Israeli commanders have committed to rescue all the hostages as they prepare to continue the campaign in Gaza launched in response to the Hamas attack, which killed 1,200 Israelis and foreigners were killed.

Around 14,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli bombardment of Gaza and the ground operation, which began last month, and the military has stated that it is ready for the next stage of the operation once the truce ends.

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