The release of four female Israeli soldiers from Hamas captivity on Saturday came at a heavy cost for Israel. Israel released 200 Palestinian prisoners, 120 of them serving life sentences, from its jails as part of a ceasefire deal.

A total of 200 Palestinian prisoners have been released to jubilant scenes in the West Bank after Israel freed them in exchange for four female hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. More than half of the 200 released had been serving life sentences in Israeli jails - some were convicted of multiple murders,

Israel’s Prison Service later said it had released of 200 Palestinians, including 121 people serving life sentences after being convicted of deadly attacks against Israelis, while others were held without charge.