Palestinians celebrated with joy and relief as Israeli forces released 90 Palestinian prisoners, including women and minors, under a ceasefire deal brokered between Israel and Hamas. The release, which followed Hamas’s handover of three Israeli captives held in Gaza, marked the first phase of an agreement that will see over 1,000 Palestinian detainees freed in exchange for 33 Israeli captives. Jubilant crowds gathered in Beitunia, a town in the occupied West Bank, to welcome the Red Cross buses carrying the freed prisoners. People cheered, waved Palestinian and Hamas flags, and set off fireworks in celebration, while the released prisoners made victory signs from the buses.

The agreement also entails the exile of more than 230 released Palestinians by Israel, prompting concerns among families and rights groups. Meanwhile, in Gaza, the ceasefire has provided a brief respite from a devastating 15-month bombardment, as displaced residents cautiously return to their homes. The first batch of 600 daily aid trucks has also arrived, carrying critical food and medical supplies to the besieged enclave.

This moment of relief comes amid decades of strife and struggle in the region, as families reunite and the broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza persists. Both sides await further implementation of the ceasefire, which is expected to address more prisoner exchanges and facilitate ongoing aid delivery to alleviate suffering in the war-torn territory.