Hamas Releases Four Israeli Hostages in Ceasefire Agreement
In a significant development, Hamas has released four Israeli female soldiers as part of a ceasefire agreement aimed at concluding a protracted conflict in Gaza that has lasted for 15 months. The soldiers, who were held captive for over a year, were set free on January 25, 2025, in exchange for approximately 200 Palestinian prisoners.
The freed soldiers were presented to a large crowd in Gaza City, surrounded by armed Hamas members. They waved and smiled as they were escorted to vehicles from the Red Cross, which transported them to Israeli forces.
The women--Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag--had been stationed at a lookout post on the Gaza border when they were captured during a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Their families expressed overwhelming joy upon seeing them on live television during the transfer at a military base near the border. In Tel Aviv, hundreds gathered at the 'Refugees' Square' to celebrate the return of the hostages, sharing tears and hugs as they watched the event unfold on a large screen.
Following their release, the soldiers were reunited with their families and subsequently taken to a hospital in central Israel, as confirmed by the Israeli Ministry of Health.
The Hamas group announced that a total of 200 Palestinian prisoners would be released on the same day. This group includes individuals serving life sentences for involvement in attacks that claimed numerous lives. Reports indicate that about 70 of these prisoners will be deported.
Shortly after the Israeli hostages were freed, buses were seen departing from the Ofer military prison in the occupied West Bank, carrying the released Palestinian prisoners.
This exchange marks the second since the ceasefire began on January 19, 2025. Previously, Hamas had released three Israeli civilians in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners. The ceasefire agreement, reached after extensive negotiations facilitated by Qatar and Egypt, has temporarily halted hostilities, which had resumed following a brief truce in November 2023.
As part of the agreement, Hamas has committed to releasing 33 hostages over a six-week period, including children, women, the elderly, and those in poor health, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. Concurrently, Israeli forces are expected to withdraw from certain positions in Gaza.
In the next phase, discussions will continue regarding the release of remaining hostages, which include military-age men, alongside further Israeli troop withdrawals from Gaza, which has suffered extensive damage due to ongoing military actions.
Currently, 90 hostages remain in Gaza, with Israeli authorities reporting that about one-third of them are presumed dead. Families of the remaining hostages express concerns that the ceasefire may collapse before their loved ones can be brought home.
