Tel Aviv (Web Desk): Four Israeli female soldiers who were captured during the initial assault by Hamas in October 2023 were returned to Israel on Saturday after being paraded by Hamas militants in Gaza City before a crowd of thousands.
The militants handed the hostages over to the Red Cross in a highly publicized exchange.
The soldiers appeared on stage in Palestine Square, waving and flashing thumbs-up signs, with armed, masked militants standing by. Although they may have been acting under duress, the display by Hamas aimed to reinforce its control over Gaza amid the ongoing conflict.
Following this exchange, Israel released 200 Palestinian prisoners, including individuals serving life sentences for deadly attacks on Israelis, as well as some detained without charge.
The release was part of a fragile ceasefire agreement. Thousands of Palestinians gathered in Ramallah to celebrate the return of the prisoners, some donning Hamas headbands given to them by supporters.
Among those freed were Mohammad Odeh and Wael Qassim, both linked to deadly Hamas attacks, including a bombing at the Hebrew University in 2002 that killed several people, including U.S. citizens.
The situation took a turn when Israel announced it would not allow displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza as expected. A key figure in the negotiations, Arbel Yehoud, a civilian hostage captured from a kibbutz, had not been released.
This created tension, with Palestinians in the southern part of Gaza waiting to move north. There was also unrest when Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian man in the area, though Israel did not immediately comment on the incident. Hamas placed the blame for the delay on Israel, while negotiators worked to resolve the issue.
Despite these challenges, the ceasefire continued to hold, reducing airstrikes and rocket fire and allowing for more humanitarian aid to reach Gaza. In the first phase of the ceasefire, which began last Sunday, a total of 90 Palestinian prisoners, primarily women and children, were swapped for three hostages. Among the Israeli soldiers freed were Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag, who had been captured when Hamas attacked their base near the Gaza border.
The soldiers were greeted with emotional reunions and celebrations upon their return to Israel.
However, the release of the hostages and prisoners has not resolved the underlying conflict. While many in Gaza celebrated the return of their compatriots, the situation remains tense.
With the death toll in Gaza surpassing 47,000, many hope that the ceasefire could be the first step toward ending the devastating war that has displaced a vast majority of Gaza’s population and left many facing severe shortages of food and water.
