Hamas released four Israeli female soldiers on Saturday as part of a prisoner exchange deal under a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the 15-month conflict in Gaza. In return, Israel agreed to free 200 Palestinian prisoners, including convicted militants.
The released soldiers—Karina Ariev, Daniela Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag—were captured during the October 7, 2023, Hamas assault on Israel. The exchange took place in Gaza City, where the hostages were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and then transferred to Israeli forces.
Crowds of Palestinians in Gaza cheered as the hostages were brought forward, while in Tel Aviv, hundreds of Israelis gathered in “Hostages Square,” celebrating and weeping as the handover was broadcast live.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesperson, confirmed the soldiers were reunited with their families at a military base near Gaza before being sent to a hospital for medical evaluations.
Hamas announced that the 200 Palestinian prisoners being released include individuals serving life sentences for deadly attacks. Around 70 of these prisoners are expected to be deported.
This is the second exchange since the ceasefire began on January 19, following a deal brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. The agreement pauses hostilities for the first time since a brief November 2023 truce. Under the initial phase, Hamas agreed to free 33 hostages, prioritizing women, children, the elderly, and the ill, while Israel committed to releasing hundreds of Palestinian detainees.
Future negotiations will address the release of remaining hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, a region devastated by prolonged fighting. Israeli officials report that 90 hostages remain in Gaza, with around a third declared deceased.
The conflict, sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and abducted over 250 hostages, has resulted in heavy casualties. Gaza’s health authorities report over 47,000 Palestinians killed since the conflict began, while Israel has lost more than 400 soldiers.