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Hamas fighters were deployed in central Gaza City ahead of the planned release Alamy

Israel releases 200 Palestinian prisoners as Hamas releases four female Israeli soldiers

The exchange is part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which is intended to pave the way to a permanent end to the conflict.

LAST UPDATE | 25 Jan

HAMAS MILITANTS HANDED over four captive female Israeli soldiers to the Red Cross in Gaza City today after parading them in front of a crowd.

Israel released 200 Palestinian prisoners or detainees later in the day as part of the fragile ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The four smiled broadly as they waved and gave the thumbs-up from a stage in Gaza City’s Palestine Square, militants on either side of them and a crowd of thousands watching, before they were led off to waiting Red Cross vehicles. The women were likely acting under duress.

Thousands of Palestinians gathered in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah to celebrate the arrival of buses carrying the prisoners. Many waved Palestinian flags or the flags of different political factions.

Israel released 70 Palestinian prisoners into Egypt, according to Egypt’s state-run Qahera TV, which said they had arrived on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza.

Egypt served as a key mediator in more than a year of talks that led to the truce agreement. Many of the 200 Palestinian prisoners released are to be sent into exile.

israeli-female-soldier-hostages-wave-and-react-at-a-palestinian-crowd-before-being-handed-over-to-the-red-cross-in-gaza-city-saturday-jan-25-2025-ap-photoabed-hajjar Israeli soldier hostages wave and react at a Palestinian crowd before being handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza City Alamy Alamy

As the four soldiers were released, hundreds of people cheered in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square where they were watching the drama unfold on a big screen television.

“I’m speechless,” said Aviv Bercovich, one of the onlookers. “I had goosebumps watching them. I just want the war to end.”

Israel confirmed that the hostages were with its forces not long after they were driven away from the handover in Gaza City by the Red Cross.

But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office later said that Arbel Yehoud, a civilian hostage held by Hamas, was supposed to have been released today. It said Israel would not allow Palestinians to begin returning to northern Gaza until she is freed.

Tánaiste Simon Harris said the homecoming of more Israeli hostages is a “moment of hope and relief” for them. He called for all remaining hostages to be released and reunited with their families. 

“I urge all concerned to meet their commitments under the ceasefire and hostage release deal,” he said.

“We need to see urgent humanitarian aid entering Gaza at scale and at speed, a return of basic services, the provision of shelter, and a clear framework under which those who have been displaced by the conflict can return home.”

The truce is aimed at winding down the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and the militant group.

The fragile deal has so far held, quieting airstrikes and rockets and allowing for increased aid to flow into the tiny coastal territory.

When the ceasefire started last Sunday, three hostages held by the militants were released in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners, all women and children.

The four Israeli soldiers: Karina Ariev, 20; Daniella Gilboa, 20; Naama Levy, 20; and Liri Albag, 19; were captured in Hamas’ 7 October 2023 attack that ignited the war.

Israel’s air and ground war, one of the deadliest and most destructive in decades, has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not say how many were militants. They say women and children make up more than half the fatalities.

Three phases

The ceasefire agreement is due to be implemented in three phases.

During the first, 42-day phase that began last Sunday, 33 hostages Israel believed were still alive should be returned in exchange for around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Three hostages – Emily Damari, Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher – have already returned home.

Ninety Palestinians, mostly women and minors, were released in exchange.

The next phase should see negotiations for a more permanent end to the war, while the last phase should see the reconstruction of Gaza and the return of the bodies of dead hostages.

With reporting from AFP 

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