GAZA/JERUSALEM. Palestinian militant group Hamas has announced that it will release three Israeli hostages on Saturday as part of a prisoner exchange deal, marking another step in ongoing ceasefire negotiations aimed at ending the 15-month war in Gaza.
The hostages set for release are Ohad Ben Ami and Eli Sharabi, who were taken from Kibbutz Be’eri during the October 7, 2023 cross-border Hamas-led attack, and Or Levy, who was abducted from the Nova music festival that same day. According to Hamas, the exchange will see Israel release 183 Palestinian prisoners, including 18 individuals serving life sentences and 111 detainees captured in Gaza during the war.
Masked and armed Hamas fighters have reportedly gathered in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, where the handover will take place. The hostages will be transferred to the International Red Cross Committee, which will then deliver them to Israeli forces inside Gaza.
For the families of the hostages, who have been held incommunicado for over a year, the imminent release brings a mix of relief and overwhelming emotion.
“I can’t even start to describe the emotions, the excitement, how happy we are that it’s finally close to being over,” said Michael Levy, brother of Or Levy, who lost his wife in the October 7 attack and has a three-year-old son. “We are waiting to hug him, waiting to see Almog (Levy’s son) hugging his father again.”
This latest exchange follows previous swaps that have seen 13 Israeli and five Thai hostages freed in return for 583 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The current 42-day ceasefire, brokered with U.S. support and mediated by Egypt and Qatar, has largely held since taking effect nearly three weeks ago.
However, concerns about the deal’s longevity have grown following a controversial statement by U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested relocating Palestinians from Gaza and turning the enclave into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” His remarks were met with rejection from Arab states and Palestinian groups, who decried the proposal as a form of ethnic cleansing.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Trump’s intervention, while Israel’s Defense Minister has reportedly ordered the military to explore options for Palestinians wishing to leave Gaza.
Under the current ceasefire agreement, 33 Israeli children, women, and vulnerable individuals are to be released in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees during the initial phase. Negotiations for a second phase began this week, aiming to secure the return of the remaining hostages and discuss the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza to pave the way for a permanent end to the conflict.
The war began when Hamas-led gunmen attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages. In response, Israel launched a full-scale air and ground campaign in Gaza, which, according to Gaza health authorities, has resulted in the deaths of over 47,000 Palestinians and left much of the enclave in ruins.
As negotiations continue, both sides face pressure from international mediators to uphold the fragile ceasefire and work toward a resolution that could bring an end to the prolonged conflict. For now, the focus remains on the safe return of the remaining hostages and the fate of Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
