Four Israeli soldiers were released after 15 months in captivity, with their reunion celebrated in Israel. This release coincides with a ceasefire agreement, under which Israel is set to free 200 Palestinian prisoners. The soldiers, captured during a Hamas attack, were displayed in Gaza City before their handover to the Red Cross. The Israeli government has conditioned the return of displaced Palestinians on the release of another civilian hostage, while discussions continue regarding the fate of remaining hostages.
Four Israeli Soldiers Released After 15 Months in Captivity
Gaza (awp/afp) – In a significant development, four Israeli soldiers were released on Saturday after enduring over 15 months of captivity in the Gaza Strip. However, Israel has stipulated the release of another hostage before permitting the planned return of displaced individuals to the northern regions of the Palestinian territory.
The soldiers were initially handed over to the Red Cross, which then transferred them to the Israeli army. Following their arrival in Israeli territory, the army reported that the soldiers were joyfully reunited with their families.
Palestinian Prisoner Release in Accordance with Ceasefire
According to Palestinian sources, Israel is expected to release 200 Palestinian prisoners throughout the day as part of a ceasefire agreement aimed at alleviating the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn Gaza Strip.
Prior to their transfer in Red Cross vehicles, the four hostages were showcased on a podium in a bustling square in Gaza City, surrounded by masked fighters from the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades and the al-Quds Brigades. The young soldiers, aged between 19 and 20, appeared to be in good health and smiled as they waved to the crowd before departing in white SUVs.
These soldiers—Daniella Gilboa, Karina Ariev, Liri Albag, and Naama Levy—were on duty monitoring the Gaza Strip when they were kidnapped during a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Their release came nearly a week after the ceasefire agreement took effect, ending over 15 months of hostilities between Hamas and Israel.
Bassem Naïm, a member of Hamas’s political bureau based in Doha, stated that the return of displaced persons to the north of Gaza would commence immediately following the release of the four soldiers. However, the Israeli government has linked the return of these Palestinian displaced individuals to the release of civilian hostage Arbel Yehud, who was also expected to be freed on Saturday, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
In Tel Aviv, celebrations erupted at the ‘Hostages’ Square as family members and supporters of the released soldiers expressed their elation. Voices resonated with calls for the return of all hostages, resulting in waves of applause from the gathered crowd.
Among the 200 Palestinians slated for release, some will return to Gaza while others will be transferred to the occupied West Bank. Reports indicate that the buses transporting these individuals departed from Ofer prison in the occupied West Bank and Ktziot prison in the Negev desert.
Notably, the release list includes 120 individuals sentenced to life imprisonment, with 70 slated for exile outside the Palestinian Territories. Among them is Mohammed Tous, who has been incarcerated since 1985, making him the longest-serving Palestinian prisoner.
This latest prisoner-hostage exchange is part of a broader ceasefire agreement that commenced on Sunday, with the first phase allowing for the release of 33 hostages in exchange for approximately 1,900 Palestinian prisoners. Following the earlier release of three young Israeli hostages on January 19, there remain 26 Israeli hostages eligible for release in this initial phase.
The Israeli army continues to express concern regarding the fate of the last two child hostages in Gaza, Kfir and Ariel Bibas, who were taken alongside their mother on October 7. As negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire continue, plans are also being discussed for the reconstruction of Gaza and the return of deceased hostages.
The Hamas attack on October 7 resulted in the deaths of 1,210 individuals in Israel, primarily civilians. Of the 251 people who were kidnapped, 87 remain in Gaza, with 34 confirmed deceased by the Israeli army. In retaliation, Israel’s offensive in Gaza has led to at least 47,283 reported deaths, predominantly among civilians, according to the Hamas Health Ministry.
Since the ceasefire began, it has largely been respected, allowing the entry of thousands of humanitarian aid trucks into the beleaguered territory.