Hamas frees four Israeli hostages in swap for Palestinian prisoners

The Palestinian militant movement Hamas released four female Israeli soldier hostages on Saturday, in return for 200 Palestinian prisoners, in keeping with a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the 15-month-old war in Gaza.

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The four were led onto a podium in Gaza City amid a large crowd of Palestinians and surrounded by dozens of armed Hamas men.' They waved and smiled before being led off, entering ICRC vehicles and being transported to Israeli forces.

The soldiers - Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag - were all stationed at an observation post on the edge of Gaza and abducted by Hamas fighters who overran their base during the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Their parents clapped and cried out in joy when they saw them on screen, watching the handover live from a nearby military base across the border. In Tel Aviv, hundreds of Israelis gathered at the so-called Hostages Square, crying, embracing and cheering as it was aired on a giant screen.

They were reunited with their family soon after, according to the military and will be taken to a hospital in central Israel, the Israeli Health Ministry said. Photos published by the Israeli military showed them embracing tightly with their parents, in smiles and tears.