Gaza ceasefire deal leads to release of 200 Palestinian prisoners
text_fieldsAs part of an ongoing ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, four Israeli female soldiers were released by Hamas in Gaza on Saturday.
The exchange, facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), also saw Israel release 200 Palestinian prisoners from its jails.
The handover took place at Palestine Square in Gaza City, where a crowd of masked Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters, along with local residents, gathered to witness the event. The released soldiers - identified as Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag - waved and smiled before being transported in ICRC vehicles to Israeli forces.
The Israeli army later confirmed their safe return and stated the soldiers are undergoing medical assessments. However, the planned release of a civilian captive, Arbel Yehud, was delayed. Hamas indicated she would be released next Saturday, but Israel accused the group of breaching the truce.
In return, Israel released 200 Palestinian prisoners, including 121 serving life sentences and 79 with long-term sentences. Among them, the youngest was 15 years old, and the oldest was 69. Seventy of the released individuals will be deported, with Egypt temporarily hosting them before their transfer to Tunisia, Algeria, and Turkiye.
Palestinians in Gaza view the prisoner exchange as a significant step. Many displaced individuals in the southern region are hopeful this deal will enable them to return to northern Gaza, starting Sunday.
This marked the second prisoner exchange since the ceasefire began on January 19, following the release of three Israeli civilians in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners. However, tensions remain high. While some celebrate the returns, others emphasise the continuing challenges posed by the Israeli occupation and ongoing conflict.
Hamas remains focused on maintaining the ceasefire to allow displaced Palestinians to return home. Meanwhile, in Tel Aviv, a public gathering celebrated the release of the Israeli soldiers, with participants waving flags and holding posters of the freed captives.