Hamas Releases Four Israeli Hostages in Second Exchange Under Gaza Ceasefire Deal

erusalem/Cairo/Gaza, January 25 (Reuters) – The Palestinian militant group Hamas freed four Israeli female soldier hostages on Saturday in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners as part of a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the 15-month-long war in Gaza.

The soldiers, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag, were captured during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, assault on Israel. They were stationed at an observation post near Gaza and were taken when Hamas fighters overran their base.

The handover, witnessed by jubilant Palestinian crowds in Gaza City and emotional celebrations in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, marked the second exchange under the truce that began on January 19. In Tel Aviv, families and supporters celebrated as the release was aired live on giant screens.

While the soldiers were reunited with their families, tensions arose as a civilian Israeli hostage expected to be released was not included in Saturday’s exchange. Israeli officials described this as a violation of the truce, while Hamas attributed the issue to technical complications. Negotiators are working to address the matter.

The exchange included convicted Palestinian militants, some serving life sentences for attacks that killed Israelis. The ceasefire deal, brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, aims to release 33 Israeli hostages in the first six weeks, with hundreds of Palestinian prisoners being freed in return.

As of now, 90 Israeli hostages remain in Gaza, while 47,000 Palestinians, including militants and civilians, have lost their lives during the conflict, according to Gaza health authorities.