Israel released 26 Palestinian prisoners early Wednesday, part of an agreement that fueled new peace talks.

The released prisoners were the second of four groups — roughly 100 prisoners — expected to be freed in a deal cobbled together by the United States to jump-start stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

The Palestinian Prison Authority confirmed 21 prisoners were released shortly after midnight in the West Bank and another five were released in Gaza.

Families of the prisoners were on hand in the West Bank, where cheers went up as buses carrying the prisoners arrived.

But the prison release has angered some Israelis, who protested outside the West Bank prison where the inmates where held before their release.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called the decision to free Palestinian prisoners one of the most difficult of his career.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the prisoners’ release, describing it as a “day of joy.” But he warned that there would be no peace agreement with Israel until all Palestinian prisoners had been freed.