The article describes the release of 110 Palestinian prisoners, including notorious figure Zakaria Zubeidi, in exchange for several Israeli and Thai hostages. As prisoners were greeted by jubilant crowds in Ramallah, scenes grew chaotic, resulting in violence and injuries among onlookers. The release included long-serving individuals, some held for decades for violent crimes. Emotions ran high as families reunited, particularly highlighting the bittersweet feelings of joy and loss, such as Zubeidi's uncle reflecting on his nephew's freedom overshadowed by the death of Zubeidi's son.
As the line of white buses drew closer to the West Bank city of Ramallah at dusk, their most notorious passenger stood at the window of one of the buses and waved.
Those due for release included some of the oldest prisoners serving life sentences for violent crimes, among them Mohammed Falna from Ramallah, detained for 33 years.
Zubeidi's uncle Jamal said tears came to his eyes when he received news that his nephew would walk free. Our joy was mixed with sadness and severe pain.
I am so tired. This isn't fair, Raghed Nasser, 21, told AFP as she waited for her father, Hussein, jailed 22 years ago while her mother was pregnant with her.
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