Families in the West Bank eagerly await the release of prisoners

As soon as the Tanji siblings heard that their youngest sister, Walaa, might be released from an Israeli prison on Thursday, they began frantically preparing for her arrival.

Some arranged transportation for relatives scattered throughout the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Others rented plastic chairs to accommodate the crowds that came to greet her. A friend even flew from Canada to be there.

“We were so happy,” said Nagham Tanji, Walaa’s older sister. “My sisters and I couldn’t wait for the sun to rise and for this day to come.”

The family were among many on both sides of the conflict who were hopeful after the announcement of a deal to release about 50 hostages in Gaza and about 150 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, combined with a temporary ceasefire. This was followed by several delays, which dampened hopes. But it was announced on Thursday that the exchange would begin on Friday.

When Mrs Tanji broke the news, she said: “Praise be to God who made the deal happen. Patience is the key to enlightenment. Now I want to start arranging her reception again.”

Walaa Tanji, 26, who was detained by Israel in her home in the Balata refugee camp on the outskirts of Nablus over a year ago, along with two other women. The Israeli military accused the three of planning an attack on an Israeli checkpoint and said it found firearms in a car they were using. Ms Tanji said her sister was innocent and had yet to be charged or convicted.

Even if Walaa had been released on Thursday, the reception would not have been possible.

Israeli forces began invading the refugee camp early Thursday and violent clashes broke out, killing one Palestinian and wounding three others, according to Wafa, the Palestinian Authority news agency. The Israeli military has been carrying out night raids on the West Bank since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, saying they are part of a counter-terrorism operation to arrest wanted Palestinians.

Ms Tanji said Walaa’s house was among those raided and badly damaged by Israeli forces. “We cannot now consider the prisoner release deal because of the horror we have witnessed since the raid began,” she said.

The deal reached by Israel and Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, would also give people in the enclave at least four days of rest after a brutal Israeli bombardment that health officials say has killed more than 12,000 Palestinians. The bombings began in retaliation for Hamas-led attacks on October 7, which Israel says killed around 1,200 people.

Buthaina Abu Ziadeh said her family hoped and prayed that her younger sister Rawan, who has spent more than eight years in an Israeli prison, would be among the released Palestinian prisoners. Her name is on the Israeli list of about 300 candidates.

“The wait was very hard,” said Ms. Abu Ziadeh. “When she comes out, I just want to hug her and hold her tight.”

Rawan Abu Ziadeh, from the village of Baytillu near Ramallah, was arrested in 2015 at the age of 20 and is serving a nine-year prison sentence after being convicted of stabbing and slightly wounding an Israeli soldier.

Ms Abu Ziadeh said the family had not expected Rawan to be on the list because she was due to be released in seven months: “She has essentially served her entire sentence even if she is released now.”

The long-awaited reunion would not be what the family had hoped for, Ms Abu Ziadeh said. “We have been eagerly awaiting this day,” she says. “But the joy will be incomplete because of all the pain in Gaza.”