[Hamas Frees Four Israeli Female Soldiers as Ceasefire Deal Takes Effect
Hamas freed four female Israeli soldiers in a second round of releases under a ceasefire deal, but Israel accused Hamas of failing to meet its obligations to release civilians first. The four freed hostages, who were 19-20 years old, had been held in Gaza since October 7 and were in a stable condition, according to Dr. Lena Koren Feldman, director of Beilinson Hospital.
The handover of the women, who were dressed in makeshift military uniforms, was a dramatic moment, with Hamas militants waving green flags and displaying a poster of Israeli leaders with the word “failure”. The women were taken from the stage in Palestine Square in Gaza City and handed over to the Red Cross.
In response, Israel released 200 Palestinian prisoners from detention centers, including 121 prisoners who had been sentenced to life imprisonment. The released prisoners included Mohammad Odeh, Wael Qassim, and Wissam Abbasi, who were arrested in 2002 for a string of deadly bombings targeting Israelis in crowded civilian areas.
However, the ceasefire deal did not meet one of Israel’s key demands, as Hamas did not release its second hostage, Arbel Yehud, a 29-year-old woman kidnapped from her home in kibbutz Nir Oz. Israel has accused Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a rival militant group, of holding Yehud captive and claims she is a trained soldier in the Israeli army’s space program.
In response, the Israeli military blocked Gazan civilians from crossing into the north, citing the unresolved issue of Yehud’s release. Hundreds of displaced people were forced to flee in panic as the military opened fire to prevent them from crossing the border. The Israeli military is demanding that Palestinian Islamic Jihad return Yehud to Israel or begin the process of her release.
The release of the Palestinian prisoners was met with joyous scenes in the occupied West Bank, where prisoners were lifted onto the shoulders of supporters and waved the Palestinian flag. Despite the issues surrounding the ceasefire deal, the releases mark a significant move towards de-escalation in the conflict.
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