Hamas has announced the names of four Israeli captives set to be released this Saturday under the terms of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
The hostages, identified as soldiers Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag, will be freed in exchange for 180 Palestinian detainees currently held in Israel. This marks the second such exchange since the ceasefire took effect last Sunday.
The initial release saw three hostages and 90 Palestinian prisoners exchanged. Dr Ayelet Levy, whose daughter Naama Levy was taken by Hamas, described her daughter as “a very strong girl” during an interview last year.
The ceasefire, which halted the conflict that erupted following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has resulted in significant casualties. Approximately 1,200 Israelis were killed, and 251 were taken hostage to Gaza. Meanwhile, over 47,200 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have died during Israel’s military operations in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Hamas is also expected to share information about the remaining 26 hostages slated for release in the coming weeks, including the Bibas family—two parents and their two children, one of whom, Kfir, was just 10 months old when captured. It remains uncertain whether Hamas will provide names or only indicate the status of the remaining hostages, whether living or deceased.
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The Palestinians who will be released in this upcoming swap are considered a higher-risk group than those freed previously. Some of these prisoners have been convicted for deadly offenses, with some serving sentences of over 15 years. Israel has made it clear that no one involved in the October 7 attacks will be set free.
Ariev, Gilboa, Levy, and Albag were captured at the Nahal Oz military base when it was overrun by Hamas militants. In footage released, the women were shown bound with their hands behind their backs, pleading for help while being taunted by their captors. They were part of a unit tasked with monitoring the Israel-Gaza border.
Hamas had previously released a video of 19-year-old Albag, urging the Israeli government to negotiate a deal.
The ceasefire came after months of indirect negotiations involving the US, Qatar, and Egypt. It is being carried out in three stages, with the second phase set to begin six weeks into the truce.
During the first stage, about 1,900 Palestinian prisoners will be exchanged for 33 hostages. Israeli forces are also expected to withdraw from Gaza, allowing hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to return to their homes.
The ceasefire is intended to pave the way for a permanent cessation of hostilities in Gaza.
As of now, 91 hostages taken on October 7 remain in Gaza. Israel believes that 57 of them are still alive. Additionally, three hostages—two of whom are alive—have been held captive for over ten years.
So far, three Israeli female hostages have been released as part of the ceasefire agreement. Romi Gonen, 24, was captured trying to flee the Nova music festival during the October 7 attack. She was released alongside Doron Steinbrecher, 31, a veterinary nurse, and Emily Damari, 28, who holds both British and Israeli nationality. The three women returned to Israel on Sunday, where they were reunited with their families.
(BBC)
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