Hamas released four female Israeli soldiers on Saturday in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners. It’s the second prisoner swap since the week-old Gaza ceasefire began.
The four Israeli soldiers (all females) are Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag. They’ve been held captive since the October 7, 2023, Hamas cross-border attack on Israel.
The prisoner exchange was met with cheering crowds in both Israel and Palestine. In Tel Aviv, hundreds of Israelis gathered at Hostages Square, crying and cheering as the release was aired on a giant screen.
In Ramallah, Palestinian crowds waved flags and greeted the released prisoners as they arrived. However, trouble reignited when Israel suddenly announced it would block hundreds of thousands of Gazans from returning to their homes in the bombed-out north. Israel says it took the decision because of Hamas’s failure to release one other hostage, 29-year-old Arbel Yehud.
Hamas released four Israeli soldiers, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag, on Saturday in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners as part of the Gaza ceasefire agreement brokered by Egypt and Qatar.pic.twitter.com/IuC30cHPr0
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Hamas claimed it would free Yehud next week, calling Israel’s decision a violation of the truce.
The ceasefire agreement was brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. The agreement is to release 33 hostages over a six-week period, with Israel freeing 30 Palestinian prisoners for each Israeli civilian and 50 for each soldier.
However, the dispute over Yehud’s release has caused new headaches and doubts about whether the ceasefire will hold and fighting might soon break out again.
US President Donald Trump has warned he wants all hostages on both sides released or “all hell will break loose in the Middle East”.
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