Israel Frees 369 Palestinian Prisoners, Tears of Joy as Children Reunite with Their Fathers After Long Wait

Israel Frees 369 Palestinian Prisoners, Tears of Joy as Children Reunite with Their Fathers After Long Wait

After the prisoner exchange in Gaza, Israel has freed 369 Palestinian prisoners. Most of these prisoners had been held in Israeli jails for a long time without formal charges or convictions. This exchange brought a brief pause in the ongoing conflict, as it was implemented following intense negotiations.

On Saturday, as the release process began, the 369 Palestinian prisoners were transported by bus from Ofer Prison to Ramallah, where they were warmly welcomed by relatives and supporters. Several buses also set off from Israel's Negev Desert toward Gaza.

Among the released prisoners is Ahmed Barghouti, 48, a close associate of Palestinian political leader Marwan Barghouti. Several elderly individuals were among those freed, including a 70-year-old man. Many of the released prisoners required immediate medical treatment.

After three captives were freed in Gaza, they were handed over to members of the International Red Cross. The freed individuals are American-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen, Russian-Israeli Alexander Sasha Trufanov, and Argentinian-Israeli Yair Horn. They were captured during Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7.

Following the release, Hamas issued a statement saying, "This is a renewed message to Israel." They also added, "The release of prisoners is only possible through negotiations and adherence to the ceasefire agreement."

Israeli citizens watched the prisoner exchange on television, and while the moment was significant, discussions about Gaza's future continued to dominate their conversations.