Hamas Frees 4 Israeli Soldiers in Prisoner Swap Under Gaza Ceasefire Deal

Hamas Frees 4 Israeli Soldiers in Prisoner Swap Under Gaza Ceasefire Deal

The release of four female Israeli soldiers by Hamas on Saturday was a major step under the ceasefire deal between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist group. About 200 Palestinian inmates were released in return, which was a significant step in bringing an end to the violence in Gaza, which has lasted for 15 months. Before being turned over to Israeli military authorities, the released Israeli soldiers—Karina Ariev, Daniela Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag—were first given to the Red Cross in Gaza. These troops were taken hostage by Hamas militants during an October 7, 2023, raid on their observation station outside of Gaza, according to AFP.

A Palestinian source told Reuters that the Islamic Jihad organization has detained one of the troops. This is the second exchange since the truce began on January 19, after lengthy talks led by Egypt and Qatar with support from the United States. In the initial stage, Hamas had traded 90 Palestinian inmates for the freedom of three Israeli civilians.

Ceasefire Terms and Phases

After protracted fighting, the current ceasefire deal seeks to defuse tensions. In exchange for hundreds of Palestinian inmates in Israeli prisons, Hamas has agreed to free 33 hostages, including women, children, the elderly, and those in critical condition, during the first six-week phase. The Israeli military has also consented to leave some of their posts in Gaza. The release of the remaining hostages, including males of military age, and the complete Israeli military departure from Gaza will be the focus of a later phase.

Background on the Conflict

The present peace comes after a catastrophic 15-month battle that started on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel. The attack claimed the lives of 1,200 Israelis and resulted in the transport of over 250 prisoners to Gaza. According to Gaza health officials, Israel’s huge military onslaught in reprisal killed about 47,000 Palestinians. The truce provides a much-needed respite and a ray of hope for future negotiations and lasting peace in a region that has been ravaged by months of intense fighting and destruction.