PHOTOS: Palestinians celebrate prisoner release in West Bank

Palestinians celebrated as they received 26 prisoners who were released from Israeli prisons in the early hours of Wednesday. The men were freed in the second stage of a deal between Israel and the Palestinian Authority designed to enable a return to negotiations. Thousands of people gathered in Ramallah and throughout the West Bank to meet their newly released loved ones, all of whom were imprisoned before the Oslo Accords in 1993. Another five prisoners were released to the Gaza Strip.

Photos: Ahmad al-Bazz, Yotam Ronen, Ryan Rodrick Beiler, Oren Ziv , Hamde Abu-Rahma/ Activestills.org

PHOTOS: Palestinians celebrate prisoner release in West Bank
A released Palestinian prisoner reacts upon his arrival at President Mahmoud Abbas’s headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah on October 30, 2013. (Yotam Ronen/Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Palestinians celebrate prisoner release in West Bank
Family members and friends celebrate as they wait for the release of Palestinian prisoners Mohamed Ibrahim and Nasser Karage, both jailed in Israeli prisons since 1985, in the West Bank village of Safa, on October 29, 2013. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Palestinians celebrate prisoner release in West Bank
A convoy of vehicles bearing flags and portraits of prisoners waits to welcome home Palestinians released from Israeli jails, Beit Sahour, West Bank, October 30, 2013. (Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Palestinians celebrate prisoner release in West Bank
The sister of Mo’ayad Hajah awaits his arrival to the village of Burqa after he spent more than 22 years in Israeli prison, Burqa, West Bank, October 30, 2013. (Ahmad al-Bazz/Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Palestinians celebrate prisoner release in West Bank
Family members and friends celebrate as they wait for the release of 26 Palestinian prisoners jailed in Israeli prisons in the Muqata presidential compound on October 29, 2013 in Ramallah, West Bank. (Yotam Ronen/Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Palestinians celebrate prisoner release in West Bank
Mo’ayad Hajah meets his sister after he spent more than 22 years in Israeli prison. His mother died when he was in prison, Burqa, West bank, October 30, 2013. (Ahmad al-Bazz/Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Palestinians celebrate prisoner release in West Bank
Standing next to his mother, freed Palestinian prisoner Khaled Al-Azraq (center) embraces his brother-in-law, Aida Refugee Camp, West Bank, October 30, 2013. Al-Azraq was released from a life sentence after 23 years in Israeli prison. (Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Palestinians celebrate prisoner release in West Bank
Family members and other Palestinians celebrate in the Muqata presidential compound as they wait for the release of 26 Palestinian prisoners jailed in Israeli prisons, Ramallah, West Bank on October 29, 2013. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Palestinians celebrate prisoner release in West Bank
Family members and friends celebrate in the Muqata presidential compound as they wait for the release of 26 Palestinian prisoners jailed in Israeli prisons, Ramallah, West Bank. (Hamde Abu Rahma/Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Palestinians celebrate prisoner release in West Bank
Family members and friends celebrate in the Muqata presidential compound as they wait for the release of 26 Palestinian prisoners jailed in Israeli prisons, Ramallah, West Bank. (Yotam Ronen/Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Palestinians celebrate prisoner release in West Bank
Freed Palestinian prisoner Khaled Al-Azraq greets a young family member in their home in Aida Refugee Camp, West Bank, October 30, 2013. (Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)