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3mo ago

Hamas Releases Four Israeli Soldiers in Ceasefire Prisoner Exchange

The exchange saw four young Israeli soldiers freed after 477 days in captivity, while Israel released 200 Palestinian prisoners under a fragile truce.

Israeli female soldier hostages wave at a Palestinian crowd before being handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza City, on Saturday.
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Lebanese soldiers inspect a residential area that was devastated during fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, in the southern coastal town of Naqura, on Wednesday.
Four female Israeli soldiers, who had been held in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, are released by Hamas militants as part of a ceasefire and a hostages-prisoners swap deal, in Gaza City, on Jan. 25, 2025.

Overview

  • The four Israeli soldiers, aged 19 to 20, were captured during Hamas's October 2023 attack on southern Israel, which killed over 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.
  • The women were handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza City and are now back in Israel, where they are receiving medical care and reuniting with their families.
  • In exchange, Israel released 200 Palestinian prisoners, including 121 serving life sentences, with some set to be deported to other countries such as Egypt, Qatar, or Turkey.
  • The ceasefire, which began last week, has temporarily halted a 15-month war that has caused over 47,000 Palestinian deaths and displaced the majority of Gaza's population.
  • Negotiations continue for the release of the remaining 90 hostages held in Gaza, while concerns grow over the conditions faced by those still in captivity.