JERUSALEM. Hamas is set to release four female Israeli soldiers on Saturday as part of a prisoner swap under a ceasefire agreement aimed at bringing an end to the 15-month-long war in Gaza.
The soldiers, identified as Karina Ariev, Daniela Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag, were stationed at an observation post on the edge of Gaza when they were abducted by Hamas fighters who overran their base during the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
Hamas’s media office confirmed the expected release, stating that around 200 Palestinian prisoners would be freed in exchange, including 120 individuals serving life sentences and 80 others with long-term sentences.
This swap would be the second such exchange since the ceasefire began on Sunday. In the first exchange, Hamas released three Israeli civilians in return for 90 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas identified the four hostages set to be released on Saturday on Friday, though Israel has yet to comment officially, and may not do so until the hostages are safely returned.
The ceasefire, brokered by Qatar and Egypt and supported by the United States, is the first sustained halt in fighting since a brief truce in November 2023. In its first phase, the agreement involves the release of 33 hostages, including children, women, the elderly, and those who are sick or injured. In return, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be freed, while Israeli troops are pulling back from certain positions in Gaza.
In a subsequent phase, negotiations will continue for the exchange of remaining hostages, including military-aged men, as well as the further withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, which has suffered extensive damage from over a year of fighting and airstrikes.
The war between Israel and Hamas began after the October 7 attack, in which Hamas militants killed at least 1,200 Israelis and captured more than 250 hostages. Since the start of the conflict, more than 47,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to health authorities in Gaza.
Israel recently announced the release of three hostages—Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher—as well as the recovery of an Israeli soldier’s body, missing for over a decade. Despite the releases, Israel’s government states that 94 Israelis and foreign nationals remain held by Hamas, with the fate of some still uncertain.
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/
