TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Four female Israeli soldiers who were taken hostage in the attack that sparked the war in Gaza returned to Israel on Saturday after Hamas militants paraded them before a crowd of thousands in Gaza City and handed them over to the Red Cross.
The four Israelis, Karina Ariev, 20, Daniella Gilboa, 20, Naama Levy, 20, and Liri Albag, 19, were taken from Nahal Oz base near the border with Gaza when Palestinian militants overran it, killing more than 60 soldiers.
The soldiers smiled, waved, and gave the thumbs-up from a stage in Palestine Square, with armed, masked militants on either side, as Hamas sought to show it remained in control in Gaza after 15 months of war. The hostages likely acted under duress.
In exchange, Israel released 200 Palestinian prisoners, including 121 people serving life sentences after being convicted of deadly attacks against Israelis, while others were held without charge.
The prisoners, including Mohammad Odeh, 52, and Wael Qassim, 54, accused of carrying out Hamas attacks against Israelis, were greeted with cheers and hugs as they returned to their families.
The release of the hostages and prisoners came as part of a fragile ceasefire aimed at winding down the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and Hamas. The deal has allowed for a surge of aid into tiny, devastated Gaza.
The war has killed over 47,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not say how many were militants but say women and children make up over half the dead.
Israel insists on the release of civilian hostage Arbel Yehoud, who was taken from a kibbutz in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack that ignited the war. Hamas said it holds Israel responsible for “any delay in implementing the agreement and its repercussions.”
A senior Hamas official said the group informed mediators that Yehoud will be released next week. An Egyptian official involved in negotiations called the matter a “minor issue” that mediators were working to resolve.
The ceasefire began last weekend with the release of three hostages and 90 prisoners. The next exchange is scheduled for next Saturday, with 26 other hostages and hundreds more Palestinian prisoners expected to be released.