As celebrations and tearful reunions broke out in Israel on Monday as the last 20 living hostages returned home, similar joyful scenes emerged across the Gaza Strip as buses carrying freed Palestinian prisoners entered the war-torn territory.

As part of the ceasefire deal to end the two-year war, more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners were released around the same time as the Israeli hostages. About 1,700 of them were Palestinians detained by Israel in Gaza since the war began in October 2023, following Hamas' terrorist attack in Israel. The deal specified that none of those released on Monday were involved in the Oct. 7 attacks.

People greet freed Palestinian prisoners as they arrive in the Gaza Strip, outside Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 13

See Full Page