Freed Palestinians return home as Israel release 250 prisoners

She said she thought she was dreaming when she saw Mohannad, 38, walking towards her at President Mahmoud Abbas's compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah, with about 250 other Palestinians freed in an Israeli prisoner release.

The U.S.-backed release was designed to bolster Abbas following the takeover of Gaza by Hamas Islamists. Jamila scrambled to her feet and burst into tears as Mohannad approached her.

"Oh my beloved. Am I dreaming?" the frail 64-year-old woman said as she hugged Mohannad, who wiped her tears and made her sit on a plastic chair under a makeshift tent.

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Most of those released, including Mohannad, were members of Abbas's Fatah faction. A handful of others belonged to Hamas, said Ashraf al-Ajrami, the Palestinian minister of prisoner affairs.

Mohannad had served 18 years of his 20-year-sentence in an Israeli prison for planting bombs in Israel. He said none had caused fatalities. Israel had said it would not free prisoners with "blood on their hands". Others also wept as they were reunited with families and friends. Women ululated and formed circles to dance in celebration after the prisoners arrived in buses. EMOTIVE ISSUE The prisoners issue is highly emotive for Palestinians, who see Palestinians in Israeli jails as brothers and fighters for freedom from occupation in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.

Hamas routed Abbas's Fatah forces in Gaza last month, prompting Abbas to dismiss the government it led and to install a new administration in the larger West Bank.

Abbas has vowed not to rest until all Palestinians in Israeli prisons, which number nearly 11,000, were released.

Senior Fatah official Qaddoura Fares said Israel should free more to advance peace talks.

"If Israel had true intentions to make peace with us they would capitalise on releasing prisoners because by doing so they will build trust," he said.

Other reunions were bittersweet. Noora Abu Ayyash, 54, was happy to hug her freed son Majdi, but sad because another three were still behind bars in Israel.

Nisreen Abu Zeineh, among a handful of Palestinian women freed, said she had had 22 days left to complete her five-and-half-year sentence.

"Despite that, I am very happy," said the 23-year-old as she stood near her parents.

Ajrami said there were 64 Palestinians in Israeli prisons serving sentences longer than 20 years who were not among those freed.

"This is a very small and one-sided step," he said. "We are pushing for the release of sick prisoners, elderly and young and female prisoners".

For Jamila Jaradat, the release of her son was enough. "I will spend the remainder of my days with Mohannad," she said. "I will not let him go out - maybe only to look for a bride. I will tie his hand to mine".