Hamas released four Israeli female soldiers to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Saturday as part of a truce deal that will see 200 Palestinian prisoners freed from Israeli jails.
The four soldiers – Karina Ariev, Daniela Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag – were stationed at an observation post on the outskirts of Gaza and were captured by Hamas fighters when they overran the base during the attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023. They were among around 250 captives seized that day.
“The four returning hostages are currently being accompanied by IDF [Israeli military] special forces and ISA [Shin Bet internal intelligence agency] forces on their return to Israeli territory, where they will undergo an initial medical assessment,” the military said.
According to the terms of the agreement, Israel is expected to free 50 Palestinian prisoners for every Israeli female soldier released, including 30 sentenced to life and 20 serving long sentences. Seventy prisoners will be deported to Egypt and Turkey.
In southern Gaza, the European Hospital in Khan Younis was preparing to receive Palestinian prisoners expected to be released into the enclave, according to Middle East Eye correspondent Ahmed Abu Aziz, reporting from the hospital.
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The hospital is located near the Karem Abu Salem crossing, where Palestinian prisoners are set to be transferred into Gaza.
Saturday’s scheduled exchange will mark the second swap since the ceasefire took effect on 19 January, during which Hamas released three Israeli female civilians in return for 90 Palestinian prisoners.
The four Israeli captives were reunited with their families at an Israeli military base near the Gaza border, the Israel’s military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a video.
An Israeli civilian, Arbel Yehoud, was also expected to be released Saturday, however she was not among those freed. Hamas told Al Jazeera that it has informed mediators that Yehoud is alive and will be released next Saturday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that, “In accordance with the agreement, Israel will not allow Gazans to move to the northern part of the Gaza Strip until the release of the civilian Arbel Yehoud, who was supposed to be freed today, is arranged.”
As part of the agreement, the Israeli military was expected to withdraw from the northern section of the Netzarim Corridor, which cuts through central Gaza, on Sunday, allowing Palestinians to return to northern Gaza using the coastal road.
