Israel frees hundreds of prisoners; Palestinians reject

By: Ahmad Hammadi

JERUSALEM: Israel on Wednesday freed more than 300 Palestinian prisoners who while flashing the victory signs held emotional reunions with their families after being released from Israeli prisons but expressed solidarity for the thousands who remained behind bars.

The relatives greeted them with waving flags and chants of “Welcome” and “God is Great.” A Palestinian taxi carried the first batch of men from Israel's Erez checkpoint into the Gaza Strip. The men emerged from the taxi and kissed the ground. Minutes later, several prisoners were freed at Beitunya junction near Ramallah.

Around 60 were transferred onto two Palestinian buses at Israeli-controlled Ofer detention camp outside the West Bank city of Ramallah after earlier being released from jails inside Israel.

Several busloads of prisoners also arrived at Tarkumia checkpoint in the southern West Bank, apparently about to be freed.

Israel has agreed to free about 440 prisoners. Most are being freed Wednesday, but about 100 will be freed later. The Palestinians have rejected the release as inadequate and said thousands should be freed and called for US intervention to prevent a crisis in peace efforts.

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