183 Palestinians, 3 Israelis Freed in Fifth Swap as Ceasefire Faces Uncertainty Amid Trump’s Controversial Proposal

In the latest exchange under the Gaza ceasefire deal, Hamas and Israel completed a prisoner swap on February 8, 2025. The fifth exchange under the truce agreement saw Hamas release three Israeli captives, while Israel freed 183 Palestinian prisoners. The deal, which began on January 19, 2025, has been increasingly fragile, with uncertainties looming over its second phase due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza.

Details of the Prisoner Swap

• Hamas released three Israeli captives on Saturday morning, identified as:
  • Eli Sharabi (52)
  • Or Levy (34)
  • Ohad Ben Ami (56)
• Israel’s prison service confirmed the release of 183 Palestinians, stating that they:
  • Were transferred from multiple prisons across Israel.
  • Arrived at the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza.

Hamas’s Public Release of Israeli Captives

• The handover of the Israeli captives was managed by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
• It took place in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza.
• The three captives were publicly presented on a stage, surrounded by fighters from Hamas’s Qassam Brigades.
• They held release certificates, while banners behind them declared:
  "We are the flood, we are the war’s next day."
• Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum reported that the crowd chanted in support of Hamas’s military wing.

Scenes from the Palestinian Release

• Shortly after the release of the three Israelis, footage showed a bus leaving Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank.
• In Ramallah, dozens of freed Palestinian prisoners were greeted by celebratory crowds.
• Seven Palestinian prisoners were immediately hospitalized upon their arrival.
• Seven more prisoners were set to be transferred to Egypt ahead of further deportation.

Notable Palestinian Prisoners Released

• Iyad Abu Shakhdam (49)
  • A senior Hamas figure, jailed for nearly 21 years for involvement in attacks on Israel during the early 2000s Palestinian uprising.
• Jamal al-Tawil
  • A prominent Hamas politician and former mayor of el-Bireh.
  • Spent nearly two decades in and out of Israeli detention, mostly without charge.

Condition of Released Israeli Captives

• The three released Israelis appeared frail and gaunt after 16 months in captivity.
• The Hostages and Missing Families Forum issued a statement, declaring:
  “The disturbing images from the release of Ohad, Eli, and Or serve as yet another stark and painful evidence that leaves no room for doubt – there is no time to waste for the hostages! We must get them all out, down to the very last hostage. Now!”
• The three were immediately handed over to Israeli military intelligence officers and escorted to Israel by elite units.

Background on Captives’ Abduction

• Sharabi and Ben Ami were kidnapped from Kibbutz Be’eri, one of the sites attacked by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
• Levy was abducted from the Nova music festival, where 250 Israelis were taken hostage.

Uncertain Future: Ceasefire and Second Phase Negotiations

• The first phase of the 42-day ceasefire calls for:
  • The release of 33 Israeli captives and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
  • The return of Palestinians to northern Gaza.
  • An increase in humanitarian aid.
• So far, 18 Israeli captives and 550 Palestinian prisoners have been exchanged.
• A second phase of the deal remains uncertain, with complications arising due to:
  • Trump’s controversial proposal to clear Gaza of its population and take control of the territory.
  • Fears that Hamas may withhold remaining captives to maintain bargaining power.

Israeli Military Raids in the West Bank

• Overnight raids were conducted by the Israeli military on the homes of some Palestinians set for release.
• The Palestinian Information Center reported that:
  • Homes in Deir Nidham (northwest of Ramallah) were targeted.
  • Dozens of arrests took place in Qalqilya.

Potential Collapse of Ceasefire & Rising Death Toll

• With over 61,709 deaths in Gaza, including at least 14,222 missing and presumed dead, fears grow that the ceasefire may break down.
• More than 100 hostages were released in a prior ceasefire in November 2023, but:
  • Over 70 captives remain in Gaza.
  • At least one-third of them are presumed dead.
• If negotiations fail, the war could resume in early March.

Source: Al Jazeera