Palestinian families celebrate after 90 prisoners released by Israel

Mothers, fathers, siblings and friends had waited for hours in the cold to embrace their loved ones as part of the agreement

Palestinians celebrate a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel in the West Bank city of Beitunia. Picture: AP Photo/Leo Correa

About 90 Palestinian prisoners have been released in exchange for three Israeli hostages handed over by Hamas to Israel, as part of the ceasefire deal aimed at ending 15 months of war.

The prisoners, most of whom were freed in the early hours of Monday from Ofer prison in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, were welcomed by thousands of people celebrating, waving the flags of Palestine and Hamas.