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In a fiery speech during a meeting of the Palestinian Central Council in Ramallah on Wednesday, Abbas lashed out at Hamas, calling the group "sons of dogs" and demanding they release the hostages, disarm and hand over control of Gaza.

Abbas lashed out at Hamas in furious speech to a meeting of the Palestinian Central Council in Ramallah.

A bus carrying Palestinian prisoners later arrived at a checkpoint at the Ramallah Cultural Palace, where a large crowd has gathered to celebrate their release.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society told the BBC that five of those released in the West Bank city of Ramallah were taken straight to hospital.

In Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, buses of freed Palestinian prisoners were met by large and jubilant crowds.