The Palestinian militant group Hamas released four female Israeli soldiers on Saturday as part of a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the 15-month-long war in Gaza. In exchange, Israel will free 200 Palestinian prisoners, including militants convicted of deadly attacks.
The four soldiers—Karina Ariev, Daniela Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag—were stationed at an observation post on the edge of Gaza before being abducted during a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. They were handed over in Gaza City amidst a large crowd of Palestinians, where they briefly waved and smiled before being escorted into vehicles operated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for transport to Israeli forces.
In Tel Aviv, hundreds of Israelis gathered at Hostages Square, cheering and embracing as the transfer was broadcast live on a giant screen. The soldiers were later reunited with their families at a military base near the Gaza border and are set to undergo medical evaluations at a hospital in central Israel.
Hamas confirmed that among the 200 prisoners to be released were individuals serving life sentences for attacks that killed dozens of people. Approximately 70 of these prisoners are expected to be deported. This marks the second exchange under the current ceasefire, which began on January 19, following negotiations brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and backed by the United States.
The agreement stipulates the phased release of hostages by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, as well as the partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. In the initial phase, Hamas has agreed to release 33 hostages, prioritising children, women, the elderly, and the injured. Further negotiations are expected to address the release of the remaining hostages and a potential full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the war-torn Gaza Strip.
The conflict, sparked by the October 7 Hamas attack, has devastated Gaza and resulted in significant casualties. More than 47,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza health authorities, alongside over 400 Israeli soldiers. Hamas has not disclosed its losses, though Israeli officials estimate that militants account for over a third of Gaza’s death toll.
As of now, 90 hostages remain in Gaza, with Israeli authorities declaring about a third of them dead in absentia. The release on Saturday offers a glimmer of hope for the families of those still waiting for their loved ones to return home.