PHOTOS: Palestinians are released from Israeli prisons after 20 years

Twenty-six Palestinian prisoners from Gaza, Jerusalem and the West Bank were released early Tuesday morning in the third stage of a prisoner release deal secured by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to facilitate peace talks. A total of 104 Palestinian prisoners, all jailed before the start of the Oslo peace talks 20 years ago, are slated to be released during the course of the talks, which are scheduled to continue through mid-2014.

By: Oren Ziv, Yotam Ronen, Tali Mayer, Ahmad Al-Bazz / Activestills.org

PHOTOS: Palestinians are released from Israeli prisons after 20 years
The home of Ibrahim Taqtoq undergoes preparations for his arrival after more than 24 years in Israeli prison. He was released after midnight, Nablus, West Bank, December 30, 2013. (Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Palestinians are released from Israeli prisons after 20 years
Friends and family members of the 26 Palestinian prisoners wait for their release in the early hours of December 31, 2013 in the West Bank city of Ramallah. (Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Palestinians are released from Israeli prisons after 20 years
Friends and family members of the 26 Palestinian prisoners wait for their release in the early hours of December 31, 2013 in the West Bank city of Ramallah. (Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Palestinians are released from Israeli prisons after 20 years
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addresses released Palestinian prisoners at his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah on December 31, 2013. (Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Palestinians are released from Israeli prisons after 20 years
Friends and family members of the 26 Palestinian prisoners wait for their release in the early morning hours of December 31, 2013 in the West Bank city of Ramallah. (Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Palestinians are released from Israeli prisons after 20 years
Friends and family members of the 26 Palestinian prisoners wait for their release in the early hours of December 31, 2013 in the West Bank city of Ramallah. (Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Palestinians are released from Israeli prisons after 20 years
Freed Palestinian prisoners are greeted as they arrive at the Muqata presidential compound in the early morning hours of December 31, 2013 in Ramallah, West Bank. (Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Palestinians are released from Israeli prisons after 20 years
Freed Palestinian prisoners are greeted as they arrive at the Muqata presidential compound in the early hours on December 31, 2013 in Ramallah, West Bank. (Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Palestinians are released from Israeli prisons after 20 years
Family and friends of the Dahadgni family celebrate the release of Abu Naser Dahadgni in Shuafat refugee camp, East Jerusalem, December 31, 2013. (Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Palestinians are released from Israeli prisons after 20 years
Family and friends of the Dahadgni family celebrate the release of Abu Naser Dahadgni in Shuafat refugee camp, East Jerusalem , December 31, 2013. (Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Palestinians are released from Israeli prisons after 20 years
Freed Palestinian prisoners are greeted as they arrive at the Muqata presidential compound in the early hours of December 31, 2013 in Ramallah, West Bank. (Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Palestinians are released from Israeli prisons after 20 years
Ibrahim Taqtoq is carried as he arrives to his city after he spent more than 24 years jailed in an Israeli prison, Nablus, West bank, December 30, 2013. (Activestills.org)

 

Related:
The real problem with the prisoner release
PHOTOS: Right-wing Israelis protest Palestinian prisoner release
PHOTOS: Palestinians celebrate prisoner release in West Bank

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TEST TEST GAL Our team has been devastated by the horrific events of this latest war. The world is reeling from Israel’s unprecedented onslaught on Gaza, inflicting mass devastation and death upon besieged Palestinians, as well as the atrocious attack and kidnappings by Hamas in Israel on October 7. Our hearts are with all the people and communities facing this violence.    We are in an extraordinarily dangerous era in Israel-Palestine. The bloodshed has reached extreme levels of brutality and threatens to engulf the entire region. Emboldened settlers in the West Bank, backed by the army, are seizing the opportunity to intensify their attacks on Palestinians. The most far-right government in Israel’s history is ramping up its policing of dissent, using the cover of war to silence Palestinian citizens and left-wing Jews who object to its policies.   This escalation has a very clear context, one that +972 has spent the past 14 years covering: Israeli society’s growing racism and militarism, entrenched occupation and apartheid, and a normalized siege on Gaza.   We are well positioned to cover this perilous moment – but we need your help to do it. This terrible period will challenge the humanity of all of those working for a better future in this land. Palestinians and Israelis are already organizing and strategizing to put up the fight of their lives.   Can we count on your support? +972 Magazine is a leading media voice of this movement, a desperately needed platform where Palestinian and Israeli journalists, activists, and thinkers can report on and analyze what is happening, guided by humanism, equality, and justice. Join us.

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