Four other Israeli hostages have been released by Hamas as the ceasefire continues

Hamas released four Israeli hostages in Gaza on Saturday in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners to be released later in the day. It was the second release to happen as part of the cease-fire agreement which started last weekend. Israel followed with the release of 200 Palestinian prisoners.

A large crowd gathered in Palestine Square in northern Gaza to witness the handover of hostages to the Red Cross. A number of armed Hamas terrorists in uniform gathered for the release, surrounding the square displaying Hamas slogans. Drones were seen dropping small packages, which Israeli media reported contained candy, into the crowd.

Karina Ariev, 20; Daniella Gilboa, 20; Nahama Levi, 20; and Liri Albag, 19, were captured by Hamas’ October 7 2023 terrorist attack which caused the Israel-Hamas war. About 1,200 people were killed in Israel, and more than 47,000 have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Four female soldiers were kidnapped from the Nahal Oz military camp, on the northern border of Gaza, when Palestinian terrorists overran it on Oct. 7. He used to work in the vigilante group there.

The White House said in a statement on Saturday that it celebrates their release and that the United States “will continue with its great ally Israel to press for the release of all remaining hostages and to pursue peace throughout the region.”

Before their release, members of the Red Cross were raised to a platform in Palestine Square, where they signed documents in support of Hamas militants.

Four Israeli women arrived at the square in cars. They appeared in military uniforms and were ushered onto the stage, where, smiling, they gave thumbs up and waved to the crowd. Then they got into Red Cross vehicles and started their journey out of Gaza.

In Tel Aviv, crowds gathered to celebrate the return of captives to Israel after 476 days of captivity.

More than 60 other soldiers were killed in the Nahal Oz area during a terrorist attack on Oct. 7, and another female soldier was kidnapped from the same unit, although she was not included in Saturday’s release.

Liri Albag’s family said they were able to convey messages to other hostages who were released earlier.

Before today’s release, it was thought that seven Israeli women were being held in Gaza, including five members of the IDF and two civilians. One of the residents is Arbel Yehoud, who was kidnapped Kibbutz Nir Oz.

Another citizen of Israel is Shiri Bibaswho was taken with her two young children Ariel and Kfir. Hamas says Shiri, Ariel and Kfir were killed in an Israeli bombardment in Gaza.

In a television interview in June, former Israeli minister Benny Gantz revealed that the government knows what happened to the Bibas family, but said he could not provide details.

According to the terms of the ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages, the military hostages will be released before the military, and Yehoud is expected to be among the four released on Saturday.

“Hamas has failed to meet its obligations to release the women abducted from Israel for the first time as part of the agreement,” IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a statement after the release. “We are determined to return Arbel Yehoud, an Israeli citizen who was kidnapped in Nir Oz, and Shiri Bibas and her two children, Kfir and Ariel, whose welfare is of utmost concern. We appreciate and appreciate the efforts of all international mediators , the United States, Qatar and Egypt and we expect them to ensure that Hamas complies with the agreement.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said that the exchange of Palestinian prisoners will continue, but the people of Gaza will not be allowed to cross the Netzarim Corridor.

“Today, Israel has received four female soldiers captured from the terrorist organization Hamas, and will release the security prisoners according to a set key,” the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement. “According to the agreement, Israel will not allow the passage of Gazans to the north of the Gaza Strip – until the release of the citizen Arbel Yehoud, who was supposed to be released today, is arranged.”

Al Jazeera reported that a senior Hamas official said Yehoud would be released next Saturday.

Israel’s prisons later said it had completed the release of 200 Palestinians, including 121 serving life sentences. They are expected to be sent to Gaza, Egypt and other countries that may be in the region.

After Saturday’s talks, Israeli forces are expected to begin withdrawing from the central road that separates north and south Gaza from east to west, called the Netzarim Corridor. Palestinian citizens who were present they were expelled from northern Gaza they should then be able to go back, although at this stage of the cease-fire agreement, they will only be allowed to go on foot.

Some displaced Palestinians who managed to return to their homes in the south following the first abductions and prisoner exchanges last weekend found nothing but rubble, and in some cases, only the remains of their loved ones killed in the war.

I Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement and release of hostages they are expected to occur in stages, with each stage being discussed during the stage that comes before it.

The first phase, which began last Saturday, includes the release by Hamas of 33 hostages over a period of six weeks. They include women, children and hostages over the age of 50, according to a draft seen by CBS News.

On the first day of the deal, three hostages were released by Hamas. On the seventh day – which is today – the four captives were released.

After that, Hamas is expected to release three hostages taken from Israel every seven days, starting with the living and moving forward to return the bodies of those who have died.

More than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israel are expected to be released in the first phase of the deal.