Hamas releases four female Israeli soldiers under Gaza ceasefire agreement

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — On Saturday, four Israeli female soldiers held captive by Hamas were handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza City. This followed a public parade of the hostages by the militants. Later in the day, Israel planned to release 200 Palestinian prisoners or detainees, in accordance with a fragile ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Cheers erupted in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square as hundreds of spectators, watching the events unfold on a large screen, celebrated the release. “I’m at a loss for words,” said Aviv Bercovich, one of the onlookers. “It gave me goosebumps. I just hope this war comes to an end.”

Israeli officials confirmed the safe transfer of the hostages shortly after they were transported from the handover site by the Red Cross.

Both Tel Aviv and Gaza City had seen large crowds gathering earlier in anticipation of the prisoner swap, marking the second such exchange since the ceasefire began the previous weekend. The development is another trial for the delicate truce.

A display in Tel Aviv featured empty chairs symbolizing the hostages, accompanied by a poster of Liri Albag, one of the soldiers expected to be freed. The display fluttered under the Friday sky as the city awaited news.

A truce has temporarily paused what has become the deadliest conflict between Israel and Hamas, halting airstrikes and rocket attacks, while enabling increased humanitarian aid to reach the densely populated Gaza Strip.

Similar imagery emerged across Tel Aviv, including a mural honoring the captured female soldiers, as people continued praying for their safe return.

During the first day of the ceasefire, three hostages were released by Hamas in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners, all of them women and children.

Who are the released individuals?

The four released Israeli soldiers — Karina Ariev, 20, Daniella Gilboa, 20, Naama Levy, 20, and Liri Albag, 19 — were taken captive during the Hamas assault on Oct. 7, 2023, an event that sparked the ongoing war.

In return, Israel committed to releasing 200 Palestinian prisoners. Among these, 121 individuals were serving life sentences. A Hamas-provided list also revealed that 70 of the released detainees would be expelled from Gaza and the West Bank, though no specifics were given regarding their destination.

Notable on this list are Mohammad Odeh, 52, and Wael Qassim, 54, both from East Jerusalem. The two were implicated in multiple fatal Hamas-led attacks, including a 2002 bombing at a Hebrew University cafeteria that killed nine people, among them five U.S. citizens.

The four Israeli soldiers were taken from the Nahal Oz base, which was overrun by Palestinian militants, leading to over 60 Israeli soldiers losing their lives. The four women had been part of a unit responsible for border surveillance. A fifth soldier from the group, Agam Berger, was also abducted but was not included in the Saturday exchange.

Earlier on Saturday, Israel’s military announced that it was ready to receive the freed hostages. Medical evaluations, emotional support, and reunions with their families were to follow after initial care and hospital transfers.

Meanwhile, in Gaza City, Palestinians filled Palestine Square to witness the exchange. Among them was Radwan Abu Rawiya, who said, “This feels monumental. For a moment, people forgot the war and devastation. They’re celebrating.”

What lies ahead in the ceasefire agreement?

After the exchange, Israel is expected to withdraw from the Netzarim corridor, which splits Gaza into two regions. This would allow displaced Palestinians in the south to begin returning to their homes in the north — a first since the start of the war.

On Saturday, aerial images revealed widespread destruction in Rafah, a stark testament to the severity of the conflict. For now, Palestinians are permitted to return to Gaza’s northern areas only on foot, with vehicle movement remaining restricted until later phases of the ceasefire. Starting Sunday, Gaza’s interior ministry stated that people could walk along the coastal Rashid road to return to their homes.

As the ceasefire progresses, uncertainties linger about the steps to follow when its initial six weeks are over. Many are hopeful it will bring an end to a war that has decimated vast areas of Gaza, displaced most of its residents, and worsened the risk of famine for hundreds of thousands.

The conflict began with a Hamas-led cross-border assault on Oct. 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, most of whom were civilians, and the abduction of 250 others. In the months following, more than 100 hostages were released during previous truces, but dozens remain in captivity. Israel believes that at least a third of the remaining captives either died during the initial assault or later while held in Gaza.

While celebrations broke out in Tel Aviv after Saturday’s release, some attendees grieved for those still held. Yoni Collins, a family friend of Agam Berger, expressed his anguish: “There were five girls, and now only one remains in captivity. We’re just waiting for her safe return.”

Meanwhile, reports from Gaza’s health officials indicate that over 47,000 Palestinians have lost their lives during the Israeli air and ground offensive. While the figures do not distinguish between militants and civilians, women and children reportedly make up the majority of the casualties.