The release of prisoners sparked scenes of joy in the West Bank - images Israel wanted to avoid
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The streets of Beitunia were flooded with people as fireworks exploded in the night sky. After hours of delays, the buses carrying some of the 90 Palestinians slowly made their way through the crowds. As released prisoners disembarked in the early hours of the morning, they were mobbed by patient family members and loved ones - swept along in the pure joy of the moment.
Israel didn't want these displays of jubilation - it doesn't like the release of prisoners to be used as a sign of victory for Hamas. Follow latest: Middle East live updates. Over the next six weeks, nearly 2,000 prisoners will be released. About 100 of them are serving life sentences for violent attacks on Israelis.
But most of those freed on day one had been held without charge or were convicted of lesser crimes. Gaza ceasefire latest: Emotional reunions after Palestinians released by Israel - amid optimism as ceasefire enters second day. Three Israeli hostages returned and 90 Palestinian detainees released as part of ceasefire deal.
Trump inauguration latest: President-elect hints at plans for first hours as president - and promises 'historic' day one; Musk and Bezos mix at candlelight dinner. Palestinian teacher and activist Hadeel Shatara had been held without charge for seven months by Israel in administrative detention.
"There's no case against me. There's a secret file against me so I really don't know what I did," she told Sky News. "So they put you for a renewable six months, telling you that there's a secret file against you, we cannot tell you what you did but you're going to stay behind bars," she said she was told.
