 "Hamas frees 4 Israeli women soldiers in major prisoner swap under ceasefire")
Hamas on Saturday released four female Israeli soldiers to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), ending their 477-day captivity. The soldiers—Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag—were handed over as part of a high-stakes prisoner exchange aimed at solidifying a truce to end the 15-month-long conflict in Gaza.
According to The Times of Israel, the soldiers were paraded publicly on a stage in Gaza City prior to their release, dressed in military-style uniforms and holding bags supplied by their captors. Smiling and waving, they were then escorted to ICRC vehicles, which transported them to Israeli forces for reunification.
The exchange is part of a broader truce agreement in which Hamas has agreed to release 200 prisoners, including members of Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Many of the released Palestinians had been serving life sentences for various offences.
Saturday’s event marks the second swap since the ceasefire took effect on Sunday. Earlier in the week, three Israeli civilians were exchanged for 90 Palestinian prisoners.
The soldiers had been captured on October 7, 2023, during a Hamas attack on Israel. Stationed at an observation post near Gaza, they were seized as part of the offensive. Reports also indicate that one soldier had been held by Islamic Jihad prior to the exchange.
The truce, mediated by Qatar and Egypt with support from the United States, represents the first significant pause in hostilities since a brief ceasefire in November 2023. As part of the agreement, Israel will partially withdraw its forces from a key area in central Gaza, enabling displaced Palestinians to begin returning to northern Gaza.
(With agency inputs)