In the West Bank, there have been scenes of excitement and relief as dozens of Palestinian prisoners were released in exchange for four female IDF soldiers. While 200 prisoners were freed in the swap, around 70 of the most serious criminals were immediately deported. Twenty were sent back to Gaza, and the rest were released in the West Bank. ABC Global Affairs Editor John Lyons filed this report from Ramallah shortly before the prisoners were reunited with their families.
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00:00This is the Palestinian side of the ceasefire deal.
00:07The four hostages have been released, the Israelis from Gaza and in return the 200 Palestinian
00:13prisoners who've been in Israeli jails are to be released.
00:16The word's just gone around to the crowd here that they have left the Israeli jails and
00:22are on their way here in buses.
00:24Many of the relatives here haven't seen the people who've been in prison for many years
00:28and some never expected to see them again.
00:31This is the second release of hostages for prisoners.
00:35Each week there will be four, five or six Israeli hostages released from Gaza in return
00:41for an increasing number of Palestinians.
00:43That's the first six weeks of the deal, 33 Israeli hostages and then after the six weeks
00:49if it's negotiated again the deal will keep going until all the Israeli hostages are released.