Israel and Hamas begin second hostage-prisoner exchange

Four Israeli soldiers held by Hamas have been released as part of a ceasefire deal that has brought an end to 15 months of brutal fighting in Gaza.

Hostages Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, all aged 20, and 19-year-old Liri Albag, were all serving with the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) when they were captured.

Surrounded by armed Hamas fighters, the women waved and smiled as they were led on to a podium in Gaza City before being guided to Red Cross vehicles waiting to take them to a border point to be handed to the IDF.

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“The four returning hostages are currently being accompanied by IDF special forces and ISA forces on their return to Israeli territory, where they will undergo an initial medical assessment,” the IDF said in a statement.

“The commanders and soldiers of the Israel Defence Forces salute and embrace the returning hostages as they make their way home to the state of Israel.”

As they crossed into Israeli territory, the military said the women would be taken to an “initial reception point” where they will be “reunited with their parents”.

They are being freed by Hamas in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners, including 120 who are serving life sentences after being convicted of deadly attacks on Israelis.

The ceasefire allows for thousands of displaced Palestinians to return to their communities.

However, not long after the soldiers were released, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would not allow Palestinians to return to northern Gaza until hostage Arbel Yehud was released.

“Israel today received four female soldiers kidnapped from the Hamas terrorist organisation, and in exchange will release security prisoners…” his office said in a statement.

“In accordance with the agreement, Israel will not allow Gazans to cross into the northern Gaza Strip – until the release of civilian Arbel Yehud, who was supposed to be released today, is arranged.”

A Hamas official told the Reuters news agency she was alive and well and would be released next Saturday.

Israel had reportedly demanded she be on the list of the hostages released today. However, she was not included.

It is thought she might be held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, another militant group in the Gaza Strip.

The multi-stage fragile ceasefire deal – mediated by the US, Qatar and Egypt – has so far held, winding down the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and the militant group.

Its first six-week phase includes the release of 33 out of 94 hostages – women, children, men over 50, the ill and wounded – in return for almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

Among the roughly 250 people taken from Israel during Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack which ignited the conflict, some have died in captivity in Gaza, while others have been released or rescued.

Read more:
Who are the hostages who haven’t returned home?

“The Israeli government is committed to the return of all abducted and missing persons,” Mr Netanyahu’s office said in a statement shortly after the soldiers’ release.

In Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, a big screen showed the faces of the women.

“We are overjoyed and moved to see Naama standing strong and returning to us,” the family of Naama Levy said in a statement.

“We will not rest until the last hostage returns,” they added.

The pause in fighting – which started last Sunday and saw three hostages released in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners – is also supposed to enable humanitarian aid into the war-ravaged territory.

What happens after the initial stage of the deal is uncertain.

In Gaza, Palestinians have been both celebrating the relief from the bombing and grieving the loss of loved ones and livelihoods.

Two-thirds of all structures in the Gaza Strip have been damaged or obliterated.

Thousands of returning displaced Palestinians have found their homes reduced to rubble.

More than 47,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s offensive, according to Hamas-run authorities in Gaza, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.