200 Palestinian prisoners released to jubilant scenes in West Bank

The prisoners were released in exchange for four female hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatch LiveHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewsletters200 Palestinian prisoners released to jubilant scenes in West Bank22 hours agoJon DonnisonBBC NewsReporting fromRamallah, West BankGeorge WrightBBC NewsWatch: West Bank celebrations as freed Palestinian prisoners returnA total of 200 Palestinian prisoners have been released to jubilant scenes in the West Bank after Israel freed them in exchange for four female hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

More than half of the 200 released had been serving life sentences in Israeli jails - some were convicted of multiple murders, including the killing of Israeli civilians. Others were never charged with a crime.

Around 70 of the most serious offenders were deported via Egypt to neighbouring countries, including Qatar and Turkey.

A smaller number will be sent to Gaza. The rest - just over 120 - will be allowed to return to their homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

"After the conclusion of the necessary activities in the prisons and the approval of political authorities, all the terrorists were released from the Ofer and Ktziot prisons," the Israel Prison Service said in a statement.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78wz6dy2y2o

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