25 January, 2025: The Palestinian militant group Hamas handed over four female Israeli soldier hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Saturday as part of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. In response, Israeli authorities released 200 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, aiming to uphold the truce that seeks to bring an end to the 15-month-long war in Gaza.
The released Israeli soldiers—Karina Ariev, Daniela Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag—were abducted during Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The women, aged between 19 and 20, were stationed at an observation post on the Gaza border when they were taken captive. Footage of their abduction, retrieved from the attackers’ bodycams, had previously shown the conscripts being forcibly taken from their base.
Following their handover to the ICRC in Gaza City, the soldiers were transported to an Israeli military base near the Gaza border and later taken to a hospital in central Israel for medical evaluation and reunification with their families.
Meanwhile, the 200 released Palestinian prisoners include individuals affiliated with groups such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Among them, 121 were serving life sentences. Reports indicate that 70 of the released individuals will be deported to countries including Turkey, Tunisia, and Algeria, while the remaining were transferred to Gaza and the West Bank via the Kerem Shalom crossing and the Rafah border.
The prisoner exchange marks the second phase of the ceasefire deal brokered by Qatar and Egypt, with support from the United States. The initial phase saw Hamas release three Israeli hostages in exchange for 90 Palestinian detainees.
Israeli authorities, however, expressed concerns over Hamas’ compliance with the agreement, citing the expected but delayed release of Israeli civilian Arbel Yehoud, who was supposed to be freed as part of the second swap. As a result, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced restrictions on the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza until Yehoud is released.
The ongoing conflict, which began after the October 7 Hamas attack that resulted in 1,200 Israeli deaths and over 250 hostages taken, has led to the deaths of more than 47,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. Despite the ceasefire, Gaza remains devastated, with critical infrastructure damaged and millions facing dire humanitarian conditions.
With further phases of the ceasefire agreement set to involve the potential release of additional hostages and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, efforts are underway to rebuild war-torn communities and provide aid to displaced civilians.
