Hamas is set to release four Israeli female soldiers in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners under the Gaza ceasefire agreement, as both sides continue negotiations for further exchanges and peace efforts.
In a significant development under the ongoing ceasefire agreement in Gaza, the militant group Hamas has announced the names of four Israeli female soldiers set to be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The exchange, scheduled to take place on Saturday, marks the second swap under the ceasefire, which has been brokered with the involvement of Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.
The four soldiers to be released have been identified as Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Danielle Gilboa, and Naama Levy, as per a statement made by Abu Obeida, the spokesperson for Hamas’s armed wing.
Key Developments
- Confirmation by Israeli Authorities:
- The Israeli Prime Minister's Office confirmed receiving the list of captives from mediators and stated that Israel’s official response would follow soon.
- Exchange Terms:
- The current agreement involves the release of 50 Palestinian prisoners for each Israeli female soldier released.
- A total of 200 Palestinian prisoners are expected to be freed in exchange for the four Israeli captives.
- Initial Exchange Under Ceasefire:
- On the first day of the ceasefire, Hamas released three Israeli women in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners, marking the first such swap in over a year.
Concerns Over Ceasefire Agreement Compliance
- Reports from Israeli media suggest discrepancies in the list provided by Hamas, as Israeli authorities had anticipated the release of specific civilians before soldiers.
- As per reports, Israel had intended for civilians to be released first, followed by military personnel and individuals with serious health conditions.
Context and Background
- Since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel, at least 1,139 Israelis were killed and over 200 individuals were taken captive.
- In response, Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 47,283 Palestinians, with 111,472 others injured, leaving much of Gaza in ruins.
The Ceasefire Agreement
- The ceasefire, which was finalized after months of negotiations, paused the fighting that had been ongoing for over 15 months.
- In the initial six-week phase, Hamas committed to releasing 33 captives in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
- Future negotiations are expected to focus on the release of the remaining captives and the potential withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
- Al Jazeera's Hamduh Salut, reporting from Amman, Jordan, noted: "Israel wanted civilians to be released first, then soldiers and then those who were deemed extremely ill as part of the first phase of this deal."
Source: Al Jazeera
