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Four female Israeli soldiers who had been held by Hamas, and on Saturday safely returned to Israel after the militants saw them in front of a crowd of thousands in Gaza City and then handed them over to the Red Cross. In return, Israel released 200 Palestinian prisoners as part of the fragile Ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
The four Israelis smiled broadly as they wished and gave the thumples of a stage in the Palestinian square, militants on either side of them and a crowd of thousands before being led to waiting cars. They are probably trading under duress, with previously released yeast traps said to have been kept in burning conditions and forced to shoot propaganda videos.
Israel’s prison later said it had completed the release of 200 Palestinians. They included 121 who are serving life sentences after being convicted of deadly attacks against Israelis. Around 70 were released in Egypt, according to the state of Egypt Qahera TV of Egypt. Egypt had served as a key mediator in the talks leading to the ceasefire.
Thousands of Palestinians gathered in the occupied West Bank City of Ramallah to celebrate the arrival of buses carrying the prisoners. Many consider Palestinian flags as the flags of different political factions.
When the four Israelis were released, hundreds of people cheered in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square, where they watched the drama
“I had goosebumps watching her,” said Aviv Bercovich, one of the spectators. “I just want the war to end.”
The freed hostages were taken to an Israeli army base, where they were reunited with their parents, and could be seen in images hugging each other emotionally.
When they arrived by helicopter at a Tel Aviv Hospital, thousands of people dancing and celebrating outside looked up to see them land.
Israel insists on the release of a civilian house
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that Israel could not begin to return displaced Palestinians after Sunday, because a civilian house that was to be released, it was maintained by Hamas.
It said Israel would not allow Palestinians to begin returning to Northern Gaza, which was expected to begin by Sunday, until Arbel Yehoud was freed.
An Official Senior Hamas said that the group has informed mediators that you will be released next week.
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Meanwhile, an Egyptian official involved in the negotiations called the case a “small issue” that mediators are working to solve. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
It was the second such exchange between Israel and Hamas since a cease-fire expired last weekend in the Gaza Strip. The excitement in Israel was palpable, with TV stations full of live reports of smiling news Angel and reporters interviewed ecstatic friends and relatives of the hostages.
The ceasefire is aimed at ending the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and the militant group. The fragile deal has been kept so far, quiet planes and rockets and rockets and allowed for increased aid to flow in the small coastal territory.
When the Ceasefire began on Sunday, three hostages held by the militants were released in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners, all women and children.
Who are the soldiers and prisoners are released?
The Four Israeli soldiers, Karina Ariev, 20, Daniella Gilboa, 20, Naamy Levy, 20, and Albag 19, were captured in Hamas’ 7 October 7, 2023, attack that instigates the war.
In return, Israel encouraged the release of 200 prisoners, 121 of whom are serving life sentences, according to a list released by Hamas.
The more prominent militants to be released include Mohammad Odeh, 52, and Wait Qassim, 54, both from East Jerusalem. They were accused of carrying out a series of deadly Hamas attacks against Israelis, including a bombing at a cafeteria in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which killed five American citizens.
Of the 70 who were expelled to Egypt, some may go to other countries, with Algeria, Tunisia and Turkey expressing all willingness, according to Abdullah Al-Zaghari, the head of a Palestinian prisoners’ square group.
The four Israeli soldiers were released from Nahal Oz base taken near the border with Gaza when Palestinian militants upset it, killing more than 60 soldiers. A fifth female soldier in her unit, Agam Berger, 20, was kidnapped with her but not included in the list.
“This is huge,” said Gaza City resident Radwan Abu Rawiya, one of thousands who saw the hostages in Palestine Square.
“People forgot about the war, destruction and celebrated,” he said.
In a televised statement from Israel’s Army Spokesman REAR AdM. Daniel Hagari criticized what he called the “cynical” public display of the young women by Hamas before their release.
He also said that Israel was concerned about the fate of the two youngest hostages – Kfir and Ariel Bibas – and their mother Shiri. KFIR Bibas marked his second birthday in captivity earlier this month.
Hagari said the army is committed to bringing all the toilets home.
What’s next in the Ceasefire deal
Israel was expected to withdraw from the Netzarim Corridor – an East-West road in two – and allowed banned Palestinians in the South in the North for the first time in the North in the North in the North in the North in the north
But that seems to be on hold pending Yehoud’s release.
The Hamas-run interior ministry said it had previously said that divided Palestinians would be allowed to return to Northern Gaza starting Sunday.
What happens after the first six-week phase, but many hope it will lead to the end of a war that has lost the vast majority of hundreds of thousands of people and eliminated famine.
The conflict began with an attack from the border to Hamas by Hamas on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took about 250 orders.
More than 100 hostages were freed in a week the following month. But dozens have remained in captivity for over a year with no contact with the outside world. Israel believes at least a third of the more than 90 prisoners in the kaza of 90 were killed in the first attack or died in captivity.
While many are happy in the hostile square of Tel Aviv, the four soldiers were released on Saturday, some worried about the fate of those still in captivity.
‘It’s hard that she’s still there,’ said Yoni Collins, a family friend of Berger, the fifth female soldier taken from Nahal Oz base.
“There were five girls, four are out and now she’s alone,” he said. “We’re just waiting for her to come home.”
Ita of Israel of Israel, one of the deadliest and most destructive in decades, has killed over 47,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who did not say how many were militants. They say that women and children make up more than half of the dead.
