Hamas hostage release Gaza ceasefire agreement Israeli-Palestinian prisoner swap Humanitarian crisis in Gaza
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Hamas to Free Four Israeli Hostages in Gaza Ceasefire Swap

Hamas plans to release four Israeli women soldiers held captive since its October 7, 2023, attack as part of a truce agreement in the ongoing Gaza conflict. The exchange, scheduled for Saturday, will also include the release of a second group of Palestinian prisoners.

On Friday, Israel confirmed receiving a list of names of the hostages set to return, though the exact number of Palestinian detainees to be freed remains unspecified. According to the Israeli Hostage and Missing Families Forum, the women set for release are Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag, the latter of whom turned 19 while in captivity. The others are now 20 years old.

Fragile Ceasefire Agreement

This exchange is part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which began last Sunday. The deal aims to create a pathway toward a lasting resolution to the conflict. Mediated by Qatar and the United States, the agreement was finalized shortly before US President Donald Trump’s inauguration, with Trump taking credit for breaking the stalemate after months of negotiation.

Abu Obeida, spokesman for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, confirmed the planned release on Telegram, stating that “four women soldiers” would be freed as part of the prisoner exchange. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office also confirmed receipt of the hostages’ names via mediators.

Palestinian sources indicated that the releases could start before noon (1000 GMT) on Saturday. According to Israel’s prison service, some of the released Palestinians will return to Gaza, while others will head to the occupied West Bank.

Families Await Reunion

Families of those held in Gaza for over 15 months remain cautiously optimistic about the agreement. Vicky Cohen, whose son Nimrod Cohen is among the hostages, expressed mixed emotions, saying, “The worry and fear that the deal will not be implemented to the end is eating away at all of us.”

Meanwhile, displaced families in Gaza are grappling with the aftermath of a year-long war. Theqra Qasem, a displaced woman, lamented the destruction of homes, saying, “Even if we thought about returning, there is no place for us to put our tents because of the destruction.”

Ceasefire Phases

The truce agreement is structured into three phases:

  1. Initial Hostage Releases: During the first 42-day phase, 33 hostages believed to be alive will be freed in exchange for around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.
    • Three hostages have already been released: Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher.
    • In exchange, 90 Palestinian detainees, mostly women and minors, have been freed.
  2. Negotiations: The next phase will focus on discussions for a permanent end to the war.
  3. Reconstruction: The final stage will address Gaza’s reconstruction and the return of deceased hostages’ remains.

During the October 7 attack, Hamas took 251 hostages, with 91 remaining in Gaza, including 34 confirmed dead by the Israeli military. The assault left 1,210 people dead in Israel, primarily civilians, while Israel’s retaliatory actions have claimed 47,283 lives in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the territory’s health ministry.

Aid Challenges

While hundreds of trucks carrying aid have entered Gaza since the ceasefire began, distribution challenges persist, particularly in northern Gaza. Aid workers highlight dire conditions, with many people lacking basic shelter against winter rains and winds in bombed-out homes and makeshift shelters.

As part of the truce, Hamas indicated that displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza might begin returning north following the hostage release.

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