Israel released 26 Palestinian prisoners early Wednesday morning – 15 to Gaza and 11 to the West Bank – as part of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, hours before the first official meeting between the two sides.
The Palestinian prisoners released to the West Bank arrived at Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s presidential compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah, where their families waited for hours to receive their released relatives.
Palestinians await the arrival of 11 Palestinian prisoners, at President Mahmoud Abbas’s presidential compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah, August 14. (Photo:Oren Ziv/ Activestills)
Palestinian women dance and sing as they await the arrival of 11 Palestinian prisoners, at the presidential compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah, August 14. (Photo:Yotam Ronen/ Activestills)
Palestinian women hold photos of prisoners as they await the arrival of 11 Palestinian prisoners, at the presidential compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah, August 14. (Photo: Oren Ziv/ Activestills)
Palestinian women dance and sing as they await the arrival of 11 Palestinian prisoners, at the Palestinian presidential compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah, August 14. (Photo: Oren Ziv/ Activestills)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas delivers a speech to released Palestinian prisoners, at his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, August 14. (Photo: Yotam Ronen/ Activestills)
Palestinian prisoners freed from Israeli detention are greeted at the Palestinian presidential compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah, August 14, 2013. Israel released 26 Palestinian prisoners. Fifteen were released to Gaza and 11 to West Bank, as part of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. (Photo: Oren Ziv/ Activestills)
Palestinians carry on their shoulders.Palestinian prisoner Asmat Mansor, after he was freed from Israeli detention, Ramallah, August 14, 2013. (Oren Ziv/ Actviestills)
A Palestinian woman greets her relative that was just released from prison, as he arrives to the Palestinian presidential compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah, August 14, 2013. (Tali Mayer/ Activestills)
Palestinian prisoners freed from Israeli detention are greeted in the Palestinian presidential compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah, August 14, 2013. (Photo: Oren Ziv/ Activestills)
A rally celebrating the release of Palestinian prisoners in the West Bank city of Nablus on August 14, 2013. (Photo: Ahmad Al Bazz/ Activestills)
Palestinian celebrate the release of Husni Sawallha near his house in the West Bank village of Azmut, August 14, 2013 (Ahmad Al Bazz/ Activestills)
Relatives of Husni Sawallha greet him as he arrives to his home in the West Bank village of Azmut after 23 years in Israel prison, on August 14, 2013. (Photo: Ahmad Al Bazz/ Activestills)
