![[VIDEO] Israel Releases 200 Palestinians As Hamas Hands Over 4 Israeli Female Soldiers](https://africasnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Kenya-2025-01-25T161354.461.jpg)
[VIDEO] Israel Releases 200 Palestinians As Hamas Hands Over 4 Israeli Female Soldiers
Four female soldiers kidnapped on October 7, 2023, by fighters from the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza have been released.
Liri Albag, 19, Karina Ariev, 20, Daniella Gilboa, 20, and Naama Levy, 20, were handed up to members of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza on Saturday morning.
The four were then handed to an Israeli convoy and taken across Israel’s border, according to the Israeli military.
A little while later, the Israeli military announced that the hostages had crossed into Israel.
Hamas Frees 4 More Israeli Hostages
— GeopoliticsToday (@SpotlightNeedy) January 25, 2025
Hamas has released IDF soldiers Karina Ariev, Daniela Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Elbag. They were kidnapped from their post in Kibbutz Nahal Oz on October 7, 2023, media reports.
In response, Israel will release 200 Palestinian prisoners pic.twitter.com/pyDmDuizPm
Four IDF soldiers were freed by Hamas after 477 days as part of a ceasefire deal, in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners, including 120 serving life sentences for deadly attacks on Israelis.#Israel #Gaza #Hostages pic.twitter.com/YIScxS4UvN
— CGTN Europe Breaking News (@CGTNEuropebreak) January 25, 2025
The transfer to the Red Cross was held on Palestine Square in Gaza City, in a Hamas-controlled military-style ceremony.
Phalanxes of armed fighters in uniform, wearing black balaclavas and trademark green headbands, surrounded the square.
Spectators climbed on wreckage and wrecked vehicles to get a better view, waving Palestinian and Hamas flags.
The Hamas-organized celebration stood in stark contrast to the first captive transfer last Sunday when three Israeli civilian ladies were released in front of a raucous audience.
The four young women, who were in their pajamas when they were kidnapped 476 days ago, were marched onto a stage at the head of Gaza City’s square dressed in military uniforms.
Behind them were placards with anti-Israel slogans. During their brief appearance, two prisoners held hands.
Some smiled and waved, extending their arms and giving a thumbs-up in front of the audience. The proceedings were televised live, including on Israeli TV.
The women were released as part of a deal brokered by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, which resulted in a six-week cease-fire that began last Sunday after more than 15 months of conflict in Gaza.
Four female Israeli “soldiers’ are now being swapped in the prisoner exchange. They give a thumbs up to a Palestinian crowd.
— Syrian Girl 🇸🇾 (@Partisangirl) January 25, 2025
Remember the disgusting atrocity propaganda lies and false rape allegations Israel claimed about these women? Hamas was completely within their legal… pic.twitter.com/6VPD52xnkO
It proceeded despite Israel’s outrage that Hamas had still detained civilians despite agreeing in the ceasefire agreement to release them before the military.
As part of the ceasefire agreement, Hamas has released seven Israelis, all of them are women.
In response, Israel has stated that it will free around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees during the initial phase of the cease-fire agreement.
90 were released last week, with another 200 or so expected later Saturday.
2nd batch of 200 Palestinian prisoners released under Gaza ceasefire deal ⤵️
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) January 25, 2025
Red Cross convoy transporting the prisoners left Israel's Ofer Prison and is en route to the Beitunya area in the West Bank pic.twitter.com/fhlPPXPEH3
114 Palestinian prisoners have been freed in a prisoner exchange deal after the agreement between Hamas and Israel. pic.twitter.com/ZxYTIph0p4
— Clash Report (@clashreport) January 25, 2025
Hamas still holds 90 hostages, the majority of whom were grabbed in the 2023 attack, while many were apprehended about a decade ago.
Hamas has pledged to release another 26 hostages in the coming weeks, each in exchange for up to 30 Palestinian detainees.
The four women released on Saturday were acting as field observers in Unit 414 of the Field Intelligence Battalion when Hamas militants raided and set fire to their base near the Gaza border.
According to the Israeli military, 66 men were killed and seven female troops were taken prisoner at the base in Kibbutz Nahal Oz.
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Agam Berger, 20, who is still in the hands of Hamas; Cpl. Noa Marciano, 19, whose body was discovered by Israeli troops in Gaza in November 2023; and Ori Megidish, who was rescued in an October military operation that same year, were not present at Saturday’s transfer.
Their demise has sparked concerns in Israel over the military’s failure to avert the Hamas strike.
Members of the female observer team had frequently warned that Hamas fighters looked to be conducting maneuvers indicating that an attempt to infiltrate Israel was imminent.
However, male leaders did not take the warnings seriously.
[VIDEO] Israel Releases 200 Palestinians As Hamas Hands Over 4 Israeli Female Soldiers
