Four Israeli Hostages Freed by Hamas in Gaza, But Key Miscalculation Raises Tensions
A second hostage swap under the Gaza truce saw four Israeli women, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag, freed by Hamas fighters in Gaza City on January 25, 2025. The exchange, which saw the release of 200 Palestinian prisoners in return, was greeted by cheering crowds in Tel Aviv and Ramallah.
However, tensions arose when it emerged that Arbel Yehud, a 29-year-old Israeli civilian, was not among those released. The Israeli military accused Hamas of breaching the truce, while Hamas claimed it was a technical issue and promised to free her next week.
In response, Israel halted plans to allow Palestinians to return to the northern parts of Gaza, the area most affected by the war. A massive crowd of displaced people had gathered on the coastal road, waiting to cross into the north, but the Israeli tank blocking the road sparked panic and three people were injured.
The truce agreement, brokered by Qatar and Egypt, aims to see the release of 33 women, children, elderly, sick, and wounded hostages over six weeks, in exchange for Israel freeing 30 prisoners for each civilian and 50 for each soldier. The agreement has paused the fighting for the first time in over a year, but worries remain for the safety of remaining hostages.
With 90 hostages still held in Gaza, the sides are expected to negotiate the exchange of the rest, including men of military age, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces. Despite the challenges, the release of the four Israeli women was met with joy, with their families reuniting in tears and cheers.
