By — Shyla Duff Shyla Duff Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/watch-palestinians-celebrate-return-of-prisoners-released-by-israel Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: Palestinians celebrate return of prisoners released by Israel World Oct 13, 2025 3:35 PM EDT Israel released some 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees on Monday, days after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect. In footage provided by Reuters and the Associated Press, giant crowds in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Khan Younis, Gaza, celebrated the freed prisoners’ arrival. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. As part of the exchange, Hamas also released 20 living Israeli hostages as part of the deal, which is a step in President Donald Trump’s stated goal to end the war in Gaza, which began with an Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas that killed 1,200 people. More than 67,000 Palestinians were also killed by Israel’s two-year offensive in Gaza, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. READ MORE: These are the living hostages released by Hamas under ceasefire deal The releases mark the first phase of the agreement, which also includes ramped up aid and food deliveries into Gaza. Other details of the agreement remain uncertain. Trump met with several world leaders in Egypt on Monday for a global summit on the ceasefire deal and long-term peace. More from our coverage: Watch: Netanyahu tells Israeli parliament he’s ‘committed to this peace’ as Trump touts Gaza deal Read: Living hostages and Palestinian prisoners released as part of Gaza ceasefire Watch: Trump celebrates hostage release, calls for Netanyahu pardon in speech to Israeli parliament A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Shyla Duff Shyla Duff
Israel released some 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees on Monday, days after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect. In footage provided by Reuters and the Associated Press, giant crowds in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Khan Younis, Gaza, celebrated the freed prisoners’ arrival. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. As part of the exchange, Hamas also released 20 living Israeli hostages as part of the deal, which is a step in President Donald Trump’s stated goal to end the war in Gaza, which began with an Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas that killed 1,200 people. More than 67,000 Palestinians were also killed by Israel’s two-year offensive in Gaza, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. READ MORE: These are the living hostages released by Hamas under ceasefire deal The releases mark the first phase of the agreement, which also includes ramped up aid and food deliveries into Gaza. Other details of the agreement remain uncertain. Trump met with several world leaders in Egypt on Monday for a global summit on the ceasefire deal and long-term peace. More from our coverage: Watch: Netanyahu tells Israeli parliament he’s ‘committed to this peace’ as Trump touts Gaza deal Read: Living hostages and Palestinian prisoners released as part of Gaza ceasefire Watch: Trump celebrates hostage release, calls for Netanyahu pardon in speech to Israeli parliament A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now