Hamas released four Israeli hostages in Gaza early Saturday in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners who will be released later in the day. This was the second version to occur as part of the ceasefire agreement It started last weekend. Israel followed with the release of 200 Palestinian prisoners.
A large crowd gathered in Palestine Square in northern Gaza to witness the handing over of the hostages to the Red Cross. A number of armed Hamas militants in uniform gathered for the liberation, surrounding a podium displaying Hamas slogans. The drones could be seen dropping small packages, which Israeli media said contained candy, to the crowd.
Karina Ariev, 20 years old; Daniella Gilboa, 20; Naama Levy, 20 years old; and Liri Albag, 19, were captured in Hamas’ October 7, 2023 Terrorist attack This sparked the Israel-Hamas war. About 1,200 people were killed in Israel and more than 47,000 have since been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.
The four female soldiers were kidnapped from the Nahal Oz military base, on the border with northern Gaza, when Palestinian militants invaded it on October 7. They had been there in a lookout unit.
The White House said in a statement Saturday that it celebrated his release and that the United States “will continue with our great partner Israel to press for the release of all remaining hostages and the pursuit of peace throughout the region.” .
Before their release, Red Cross members were elevated to the podium in Palestine Square, where they signed documents alongside Hamas activists.
Israel Defense Forces
The four Israeli women arrived at the square in cars. They emerged wearing military-style uniforms and were also brought to the podium, where, smiling, they gave thumbs up gestures and waved to the crowd. They then entered Red Cross vehicles and began their journeys from Gaza.
In Tel Aviv, crowds gathered to celebrate the hostages’ return to Israel after 476 days of captivity.
More than 60 other soldiers were killed at the Nahal Oz base in the October 7 terrorist attack, and another soldier was taken hostage from the same unit, although she was not included in the Saturday release.
Liri Albag’s family said she managed to get messages to them through other hostages that had been published previously.
Israel Defense Forces
Prior to today’s release, seven Israeli women were reportedly detained in Gaza, including five IDF service members and two civilians. One of the civilians is Arbel Yehud, who was kidnapped Kibbutz nir oz.
The other Israeli civilian is Shiri Bibaswho was taken with his two young children Ariel and Kfir. Hamas claimed that Shiri, Ariel and Kfir were later killed in an Israeli bombardment in Gaza.
In a television interview in June, then-Israeli Minister Benny Gantz indicated that the government knew what happened to the Bibas family, but said he could not provide details.
Under the terms of the ceasefire and hostage release agreement, civilian hostages were to be released before soldiers, and Yehud was to be among the four released Saturday.
Ariel Schalit / AP
“Hamas failed to meet its obligations to first release Israeli civilian hostages as part of the agreement,” TDS spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a statement after publication. “We are determined to return Arbel Yehud, an Israeli citizen kidnapped from Nir Oz, as well as Shiri Bibas and her two children, Kfir and Ariel, whose welfare we are extremely concerned about. We appreciate and thank the efforts of all international mediators, The United States, Qatar and Egypt.
The Israeli prime minister’s office said the Palestinian prisoner exchange would go ahead, but Gazans would not be allowed to pass through the Netzarim corridor.
“Today, Israel received four kidnapped female soldiers from the terrorist organization Hamas, and in return it will release security prisoners according to the key,” the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement. “In accordance with the agreement, Israel will not allow Gazans to cross into the northern Gaza Strip – until the release of citizen Arbel Yehud, who was to be released today, is arranged.”
Maya Alleruzzo / AP
Al Jazeera reported that a senior Hamas official said Yehud would be released next Saturday.
Israel’s Prison Service later said it had completed the release of 200 Palestinians, including 121 serving life sentences. They are expected to be sent to Gaza, Egypt and potentially other countries in the region.
After Saturday’s exchange, Israeli forces are expected to begin withdrawing from the central road that divides north and south Gaza from east to west, called the Netzarim Corridor. Palestinian civilians who were displaced from Northern Gaza Should then be able to return, although during this stage of the ceasefire agreement they will only be allowed to make their way out.
Some displaced Palestinians who were able to return to their homes in the south after the first exchange of hostages and prisoners last weekend found nothing but rubble, and in some cases only the skeletal remains of relatives killed in the fights.
THE Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage release contract should occur in phases, each phase negotiated during the phase concerned with it.
Jehad alshrafi / ap
The first phase, which began last Saturday, includes the release of 33 hostages from Hamas over a six-week period. They include women, children and hostages over 50, a project covered by CBS News said.
On the first day of the agreement, three hostages were released by Hamas. On the seventh day – which is today – four hostages were released.
After that, Hamas is expected to release three hostages taken from Israel every seven days, starting with the living and then returning the bodies of those who died.
More than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israel are also expected to be released in the first phase of the deal.
