The Palestinian militant movement Hamas released four military hostages on Saturday in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement in the 15-month war in Gaza.
The four Israelis were led to a podium in Gaza city amid a large crowd of Palestinians and surrounded by dozens of Hamas gunmen. They waved and smiled before leaving the scene, entering Red Cross vehicles to be transported to Israeli forces.
Shortly thereafter, released Palestinian prisoners by bus were seen leaving the Israeli military prison in Off, in the occupied West Bank. Israel’s penitentiary service said all 200 had been released.
The releases from both sides were greeted by cheering crowds, including Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv and Palestinians gathered in Ramallah. The exchange was the second to occur during the truce, following an initial outing on the first day of the ceasefire on January 19.
The truce requires Hamas to release 33 women, children, elderly, sick and wounded as the first six-week phase, with Israel releasing 30 prisoners for every civilian and 50 for every soldier.
The four Israeli soldiers released on Saturday – Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag – were all assigned to an observation post on Gaza’s borders when Hamas fighters overran its base and kidnapped them during the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 which precipitated the war.
His parents clapped and shouted with joy when they saw them on the screen, watching live from a nearby military base on the other side of the border. In Tel Aviv, hundreds of Israelis gathered at a meeting point now widely known as Hostage Square, crying, hugging and applauding as the liberation was broadcast on a giant screen.
The women were reunited with their families shortly thereafter and then taken aboard helicopters to a hospital in central Israel. Photos released by the Israeli military showed them tightly embracing their parents, including smiles and tears.
The 200 Palestinians released Saturday include militants, some facing life sentences for involvement in attacks that killed dozens of people, according to a list released by Hamas.
Israel says those convicted of killing Israelis will not be allowed to return home. About 70 will be deported to Egypt, according to Palestinian authorities, and from there to another country, possibly Türkiye, Qatar or Algeria.
Another 16 were sent to Gaza and the rest were released into the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where Palestinian flag-shaking crowds gathered in Ramallah to receive them.
Source: Terra
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