Hamas hands over four female Israeli soldiers to the Red Cross in Gaza

Four young Israeli soldiers, held hostage by Hamas for 477 days, have finally been released in a second ceasefire exchange deal. This marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict and negotiations. The women—Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag—were freed and handed over to Israel on Saturday.

Captured during Hamas’ October 7 attack

The soldiers, aged 19 to 20, were captured on October 7, 2023, during Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel’s Nahal Oz military base. After more than a year of captivity, their release came through the mediation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

First exchange deal sets the stage

This release follows the first hostage exchange deal, which happened just six days earlier. That deal saw three hostages, Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher, freed in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners. Despite delays caused by Hamas violating the terms of the agreement, the exchange set the stage for further negotiations.

Israel agrees to release 200 Palestinian prisoners

The latest handover involves a new set of terms. With Israel agreeing to release 200 Palestinian convicts, some serving life sentences, as part of the swap. However, Israel has accused Hamas of breaching the ceasefire agreement again. According to the deal, Hamas is supposed to release female civilians first, followed by female soldiers.Tthen the elderly and ill. Yet, the list of those freed did not include two Israeli civilians. Arbel Yehud and Shiri Silberman Bibas, still held hostage.

Hamas violates ceasefire terms again

Hamas revealed the names of the four female soldiers it was releasing just a day before the exchange. Israel was quick to point out that Yehud, who is believed to be held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad and not Hamas, was not included, complicating the matter.

Propaganda videos show distress of hostages

The four soldiers—Ariev, Gilboa, Levy, and Albag—had been forced to appear in distressing propaganda videos while in captivity. Albag, in particular, was shown pleading for rescue in a video released by Hamas in January, describing her situation as “a nightmare.” Her family, devastated by the footage, urged the Israeli government to act on their behalf.

Other hostages still in captivity

Gilboa and Ariev, also seen in similar propaganda videos, were captured on the same day. They feared for their lives in the face of constant bombardment. Levy, known for her aspirations in diplomacy, was kidnapped while seeking shelter. Her last text to her mother being that she was safe—until a chilling video surfaced showing her bound and dragged by a terrorist.

Along with these four soldiers, another soldier, Agam Berger, remains in Hamas captivity. However, one of the female soldiers, who was also abducted from the Nahal Oz base, was rescued in October 2023. The body of another victim was discovered weeks after the attack.

Future hostage exchanges under ceasefire deal

As part of the ceasefire deal, Israel and Hamas will continue negotiating the release of hostages. Over the next few weeks Israel will receive more captives in future exchanges. The current phase of the deal will last five weeks. Israel expects to receive a total of 33 hostages in exchange for over 1,900 Palestinian detainees.

However, the road to full resolution remains bumpy. Negotiations for a permanent ceasefire are ongoing, with both sides facing significant hurdles. Israel insists on maintaining military control in Gaza until Hamas surrenders all its weapons, while Hamas demands Israel pull out its forces before the remaining hostages are returned.

Long-term goals and international supervision

The long-term goal of the ceasefire is to reach a comprehensive deal. Including the return of all remaining hostages, a permanent halt to hostilities, and international supervision of Gaza’s reconstruction. The agreement, though fragile, has brought a temporary calm after the shocking October 7 attack, which saw the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of over 250 hostages.

While over 47,000 Palestinians have died in the ongoing conflict, a ceasefire deal, though still in the early stages, offers hope for a resolution. However, both sides remain far from agreement on a final resolution, with significant political and military obstacles still in the way.