Freed Palestinian detainees arrive in Damascus

A Syrian plane carrying 16 freed Palestinian detainees, both men and women, arrived at Damascus International airport early on Wednesday within the first phase of the prisoners exchange between Hamas and Israel. Upon arrival, the freed Palestinians expressed gratitude to Syria for hosting a number of their country men and women, saying that they chose Syria because it was closer to their \"motherland\" to which they will return soon. They also thanked Hamas for carrying out the negotiations with Israel and noted that the prisoner swap deal is a great national achievement which Hamas should take credit for, expressing hope for the release of around 8,000 more Palestinians from Israeli prisons. Around 477 Palestinian prisoners, including all females in Israeli jails, were released in the first phase of the prisoner swap deal between Hamas and Israel, while 550 more are expected to be released soon.