Four female Israeli soldiers freed under ceasefire swap

Two hundred Palestinians detained in prison are released

- BEL TREW , TARA COBHAM & RATEB AL-QAISSY

Hamas has handed over four female Israeli soldiers, while 200 Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons have been released in the second such exchange under the fragile ceasefire in Gaza.

Karina Ariev, 20, Daniella Gilboa, 20, Naama Levy, 20, and Liri Albag, 19, were all stationed at an observation post on the edge of the besieged strip; they were seized by Hamas fighters who overran their base during the attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. A Palestinian source said that one of the soldiers was being held by Islamic Jihad.

In a clear show of force yesterday morning, dozens of masked and armed Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants gathered in Palestine Square in Gaza City, where Red Cross vehicles pulled up to carry out the transfer. The women, wearing khaki-coloured military-style clothing, were walked by Hamas fighters onto the stage, where they gave thumbs-up gestures and peace signs, and smiled and waved at the crowd as thousands cheered.

The women were later transported to Israel by the Israeli military. Crowds of ecstatic supporters gathered at BeilinsonSchneider hospital, just outside Tel Aviv, welcoming the arrival of the four there by helicopter by chanting: “The people of Israel live.” The director of the hospital later said the medical conditions of the hostages were stable.

Israel then released at least 70 Palestinian prisoners who will not be allowed to return to Gaza or the occupied West Bank, according to Egypt’s state-run TV broadcaster Qahera, which said they had arrived on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza.