20 Oct 2011

Freed prisoners trickle away from Israel

1:18 pm on 20 October 2011

Some of the Palestinian prisoners released by Israel have been arriving at destinations throughout the Middle East.

They were freed on Tuesday in exchange for an Israeli soldier captured by Hamas more than five years ago.

Some 477 Palestinians were freed, in the first part of an amnesty that will eventually see 1027 prisoners released.

Some had been in prison for decades and some had been convicted of murder and orchestrating suicide attacks.

The BBC reports 11 men who were regarded by Israel as too dangerous to stay in the West Bank or Gaza were sent to Ankara where they were greeted by Palestinian representatives and Turkish officials.

Sixteen more arrived in Syria to a welcome by crowds waving flags in Damascus. One woman arrived in Jordan.