'Indescribable emotions, immense joy' - Thousands in Khan Younis welcome released Palestinian prisoners following Israel-Hamas exchange deal

'Indescribable emotions, immense joy' - Thousands in Khan Younis welcome released Palestinian prisoners following Israel-Hamas exchange deal

"Hundreds of released Palestinian prisoners arrived in the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Monday as part of the exchange deal between Hamas and Israel. Footage shows thousands of Palestinians gathering in front of the Nasser Medical Hospital to witness the arrival of buses carrying released prisoners. Some of the freed detainees lean out of the bus windows to embrace and shake hands with their families and loved ones. Abdullah Rafi, a released prisoner and doctor who was arrested from Kamal Adwan Hospital, described his feelings, saying, "It’s an incredible, indescribable feeling - praise be to God. Prisoners are living in a place that doesn’t resemble a prison but rather something closer to a slaughterhouse - it’s not a prison in the real sense of the word. We pray that all prisoners will be freed soon, God willing." Ghadeer Asaifan, wife of a freed prisoner, said, "These are indescribable emotions - immense joy. We pray that every family with a prisoner may feel this happiness and that relief will come soon, God willing." According to the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA), "the Israeli occupation forces released the second group of detainees from Ketziot Prison in the Negev desert on Monday evening, transferring them to the Gaza Strip. The release involved 38 buses and 10 ambulances, which transported hundreds of freed prisoners who arrived at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis." The agency added that the second group of detainees included 154 prisoners with 'long-term and life sentences', who were to be transferred from Gaza to the Arab Republic of Egypt, in addition to 1,718 detainees from Gaza who were arrested following the outbreak of the war on October 7, 2023." Earlier on Monday, Hamas announced the release of 20 hostages, while Israel has released 1,900 prisoners in accordance with the ceasefire in Gaza. On Friday, October 10, the Gaza ceasefire agreement entered into force as the Israeli military began its phased pullback and announced that 'its troops began positioning themselves along the updated deployment lines.' This comes as the Israeli cabinet endorsed the first phase of the agreement on Thursday. On September 29, US President Donald Trump, alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, unveiled a 20-point peace proposal for Gaza. The plan calls for an immediate ceasefire and a release of all hostages - living and remains - within 72 hours, as well as the release of 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 Palestinians from Gaza detained since October 7. The plan also allows for 'full humanitarian aid' to Gaza, amnesty for Hamas members who agree to peace, or the provision of a safe passage for others, stating that no one will be forced to leave Gaza. Hamas approved the proposal under specific terms, calling for a lasting peace and full Israeli withdrawal from the enclave."