DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Militant groups affiliated with Hamas are preparing to release three Israeli hostages this Saturday, amidst an ongoing situation where Israel is expected to free dozens of Palestinian prisoners. This exchange is part of a delicate agreement aimed at temporarily halting hostilities in the Gaza region.
President Donald Trump’s recent proposal to relocate the Palestinian population from Gaza has garnered support from Israel, yet it has been met with strong disapproval from Palestinians and much of the global community. While the truce currently in place is set to continue until early March, this controversial suggestion may complicate future negotiations, particularly concerning the next phase in which Hamas is expected to release additional hostages in exchange for a more durable ceasefire. The militant group might hesitate to relinquish more captives, viewing them as vital leverage if it perceives serious intentions from the U.S. and Israel regarding the potential depopulation of Gaza, a move deemed unlawful by rights organizations.
The hostages scheduled for release include Eli Sharabi, 52; Ohad Ben Ami, 56; and Or Levy, 34, all of whom were taken during the Hamas offensive on Israel on October 7, 2023, which initiated the ongoing conflict.
Armed and masked Hamas fighters gathered on Saturday morning at a site along the main highway in Central Gaza, ready for the exchange. Witnesses reported a crowd assembling nearby, though Hamas personnel maintained a distance to control the scene. This will mark the fifth such exchange since the ceasefire began on January 19, with 18 hostages and over 550 Palestinian detainees already released during the current agreement.
The first stage of the ceasefire agreement stipulates the release of 33 hostages alongside nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees, the repatriation of Palestinians to northern Gaza, and an increase in humanitarian aid to the beleaguered region. For the first time since May, injured Palestinians were also permitted to exit Gaza toward Egypt last week.
Eli Sharabi and Ohad Ben Ami were both abducted from Kibbutz Beeri, one of the areas significantly affected by the October assault. Or Levy was captured at the Nova music festival where he had taken refuge in a designated safe area when the militants struck. Tragically, Sharabi lost his wife and two daughters during the attack on October 7, and his brother was also taken captive and later perished. Levy’s spouse was also killed, while his 3-year-old son has been raised by relatives for the last 16 months. Ben Ami, who has three children, was kidnapped alongside his wife, Raz, who was released during a previous ceasefire in November 2023.
The batch of Palestinian detainees being freed by Israel includes 183 individuals, encompassing 18 individuals serving life sentences for violent offenses, 54 serving long sentences, and 111 who were detained following the outbreak of hostilities on October 7. All are male, with ages varying from 20 to 61. While Israel categorizes them as terrorists, supporters in the Palestinian community often view them as freedom fighters in their struggle against Israeli occupation, creating a shared connection felt by many families.
Additionally, significant releases took place during a ceasefire in November 2023, with over 100 hostages freed. Currently, more than 70 individuals remain in captivity in Gaza, while Israel estimates that about 34 hostages are believed to have perished during the initial assault or in captive conditions. Israel has indicated that Hamas confirmed the deaths of eight of the 33 individuals scheduled for release in the initial ceasefire phase.
While the ceasefire continues, the specifics surrounding the next stage remain uncertain. It is unclear if discussions have started between Israel and Hamas regarding the subsequent phase, which involves the release of the remaining hostages and a potential indefinite extension of the truce. Without an agreement, hostilities could resume as early as March.
Despite the current pause, Israel maintains its resolve to dismantle Hamas, a commitment that persists even with Hamas reaffirming its control over Gaza almost immediately after the latest ceasefire was implemented. A significant far-right element within Prime Minister Netanyahu’s coalition is advocating for a resumption of military action following the initial phase of the truce. Hamas has articulated that it will not release the remaining hostages without the cessation of hostilities and a comprehensive withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
The assault on October 7 resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities, predominantly among civilians. In response, over 47,000 Palestinians have reportedly lost their lives in Israel’s retaliatory military actions, with more than half of these being women and children, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not specify the number of militants among the deceased. The Israeli military claims to have neutralized over 17,000 combatants, attributing civilian casualties to Hamas’s tactics of operating within populated neighborhoods.
Among the security detainees being released this Saturday are five individuals from East Jerusalem, 14 from Gaza, and 53 from the occupied West Bank. Seven of those released will be sent to Egypt for further relocation. A total of 47 prisoners will be set free from Ofer prison in the West Bank and will be welcomed by their relatives at Betunia, near Ramallah.
Many of these Palestinian detainees were arrested due to charges ranging from bombing attacks to affiliations with militant groups, with some cases dating back over 20 years. Among those released is Iyad Abu Shakhdam, 49, who has spent nearly two decades in prison due to his participation in Hamas-related attacks that resulted in significant casualties among Israelis during the early 2000s uprising. Another notable release is Jamal al-Tawil, a recognized Hamas figure and former mayor of al-Bireh, who has faced multiple arrests over almost 20 years, with the latest being in 2021 for alleged violent participation and consolidating Hamas leadership within the West Bank. Israel continues to maintain control over the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem since the 1967 Middle East war, while Palestinians aspire for these territories to form the basis of their future state.
