Released Palestinian prisoners greeted with hugs, cheers in West Bank

A group of released Palestinian prisoners were met with cheers in Ramallah on early Thursday (February 27), in an overnight exchange marking the final swap as part of a fragile truce in Gaza.

Hamas handed over the bodies of four Israeli hostages while it waited for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners to be released by Israel in return.

Earlier, a bus carrying some of the freed prisoners was seen leaving Israel's Ofer prison in the occupied West Bank.

The group got off the bus to cheers from hundreds congregated outside, with some of the released men - clad in green jackets and keffiyehs - hoisted aloft by the crowd.

The first phase of the ceasefire included the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages in total for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from some positions in Gaza as well as an influx of aid.

(Production: Mohammed Torokman, Ali Sawafta, Mustafa Abu Ganeyeh)