On the morning of October 2, a windowless bus carrying 29 Palestinian political prisoners drove through the Erez crossing in northern Gaza and dropped off the previously incarcerated inmates of Kitsyot prison in southern Israel to their waiting families.

They had been scheduled for release on Monday morning, along with their 57 Palestinian peers who were transferred, handcuffed, in two windowless buses to the Beitunya checkpoint in the West Bank before continuing to Ramallah to be reunited with their families and friends. However, their freedom was temporarily put on hold as they waited for Israeli President Shimon Peres to sign their release papers. As the 29 Palestinians returning to Gaza were tried in civilian Israeli courts, Israeli law requires that the president approve their release. Conversely, as the West Bank is under military occupation, the prisoners returning to their families require no such signature.

The release of these Palestinian prisoners is another “goodwill gesture” extended by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas. Since Hamas violently ousted Fatah forces from Gaza in June, subsequently dividing the occupied territories into two separately governed entities, Olmert has been frequently liaising with Abbas in the hope of seeking peaceful dialogue with the more moderate and secular Palestinian party based in the West Bank. On July 20, Olmert agreed to the release of approximately 250 Palestinian prisoners, mostly affiliated with Fatah, in order to boost Abbas’ authority in the West Bank.

With the November Peace Summit fast approaching and as Muslims are currently observing the holy month of Ramadan, Olmert arranged with Abbas to grant a further 90 prisoners freedom under the same conditions as in July. Those released must have “no blood on their hands” – that is, not to have been involved in operations which killed Israelis – and they must renounce future violence against Israel. Invariably, once the names had been decided upon, there were those who didn’t fulfill the criteria. For example, one prisoner who was to travel to the West Bank for release was refused after it became apparent that he had switched allegiances to Hamas during his time in jail.

As in July, none of the 57 returning to their families in Ramallah or the 29 transported to Gaza were Hamas members. The majority are Fatah supporters with a small percentage belonging to smaller secularist parties such as DFLP and PFLP. In response, Hamas aide Mohammed al-Mudhoun advocated the freedom of Palestinians but considered the episode humiliating “for the leadership in Ramallah that considers this humble number a great achievement”. Additionally, Hamas spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri emphasized that the event would “brighten the image of occupation in world public opinion”.

The two buses headed for Beitunya on Monday, delayed by five hours in what the Israeli Prison Service attributed to “technical problems” and a “bureaucratic error”, still reverberated with singing from the prisoners inside. Once reunited, some of the freed men described themselves as “born again” while their families conveyed relief and happiness at welcoming their loved ones home.

Despite the initial jubilation, the celebrations were slightly muted. While families were compelled to wait further in Gaza for their loved ones to return, in the suspense and frustration of the moment, 1,000 ventured into “no mans land”, the protective area in between the border fence and Gaza. As they strayed into this prohibited area, a couple of Palestinians, including a 14-year -old boy, were hit by Israeli fire.

In addition, although the release of Palestinian prisoners is welcomed, 86 is such a small number in comparison to the 11,000 Palestinians currently incarcerated, especially since those freed were already nearing the end of their sentences and had “no blood on their hands”. Fatah spokesman, Fawzi Barhum praised the release of the 86 Palestinians but declared that “all prisoners should be freed regardless of their political affiliation”.

On the Israeli side, there are those in high places questioning these actions, such as military chief Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, who deemed the release of prisoners from Gaza while Gilad Shalit remains at large as an “immoral” concession made by President Peres.