Hamas released four Israeli soldiers held in Gaza as part of the ceasefire agreement | News about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
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Israel had expected to release dozens of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons as part of the ceasefire agreement.
Hamas has released four female Israeli soldiers held in Gaza as part of a ceasefire agreement, handing them over to Red Cross officials in Gaza’s Palestine Square.
In exchange for a second prisoner release on Saturday, Israel is expected to release 200 Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
On the eve of the release, dozens of masked Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters gathered in the square, where a large crowd of Palestinians also gathered. In addition to hundreds of Hamas members, other Palestinian factions, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad, are also present at the site.
Red Cross representatives and a Hamas fighter were seen signing documents before the release.
Hamas identified the four Israeli soldiers as Karina Riev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag. The four prisoners, who were wearing Israeli military uniforms, waved to the crowd as they were released.
Ibrahim Al Khaliji, reporting for Al Jazeera from Palestine Square, described the release as a “historic moment”.
In Tel Aviv, the crowd cheered as they watched the release on the big screen.
As part of the deal, Israeli forces are also expected to withdraw from the Netzarim corridor, allowing hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to return to their homes in northern Gaza.
Israel is also expected to open the Rafah border crossing in the south to allow more humanitarian aid and other commercial supplies to enter.
Al Jazeera reporter Hind Khoudary, reporting from Gaza’s al-Bureij refugee camp, said many Palestinians consider Saturday’s prisoner exchange more important because it will pave the way for their return to northern Gaza.
More to come…
