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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton. Around 1,700 Palestinians were returned to

Gaza today. There are just some of the several thousand that Israeli troops seized and held

without charge during the two-year war with Hamas.

Their return was part of a ceasefire deal that also saw the release of all 20 remaining

living hostages back to Israel. NPR's Honest Baba reports from Khan-unus in Gaza that the

reunions were a mix of emotions. Families here are waving Palestinian flags, some wearing the

traditional Kofia, mothers, wives,

and also children holding flowers. The scene in front of me is it's a mix of joy and at the same

time it's a mix of survival for those who survived this war. The freed prisoners appear totally

and extremely pale here as they haven't seen the

sunlight for years, same as they are very weak to walk, actually. We can see the prisoners and also

the families. They are just embracing each other with a big smiles and in the same time tears

all over their cheeks. And it's Baba and pure news.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson says the government shutdown may become the longest in history.

Johnson is refusing to call the House back into session.

The Senate was closed today for the federal holiday, but senators aren't any closer to passing a funding bill.

Johnson says he won't negotiate with Democrats until they

stop making demands for extending health care subsidies. Our members are doing very productive work.

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