Let not them that are wrongfully mine enemies rejoice over me; neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause. (Psalms 35:19)

Among the thousands gathered in Ramallah to welcome the 26 murders Israel released as a good-faith measure late Tuesday night, was Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, according to The Times of Israel. All 26 were convicted murderers, most of them jailed for crimes committed before the 1993 Oslo Accords.

A raucous crowd welcomed the released men home while wielding Fatah and Palestinian flags and AK-47 rifles. The prisoners were greeted in front of Yasser Arafat’s mausoleum next to the Palestinian Authority headquarters in Ramallah by assorted Palestinian dignitaries, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, who kissed and embraced each of the men in succession.

Addressing the assembled Palestinians, Abbas said there would be no peace treaty so long as there are Palestinian prisoners behind lock and key in Israel. He promised to continue in his efforts to free all the prisoners from Israeli incarceration.

“Today is a day of joy for the family and for all of Palestine,” said Tayser Shubair, whose brother Hazem was jailed in 1994. “My brother is a freedom fighter and we are proud of him and we thank the president [Abbas] for his effort to get him out.”