Hamas Releases Four Israeli Women Hostages to Red Cross Amid Truce
Gaza City – On Saturday, Hamas transferred four Israeli women hostages to the Red Cross as part of an ongoing truce agreement related to the Gaza conflict. This event is also anticipated to lead to the release of a second group of Palestinian prisoners.
An AFP journalist reported witnessing the handover, which took place on a stage in a central square in Gaza City. Dozens of masked members of Hamas were present as four Red Cross vehicles arrived before the handover.
Hamas fighters and members of Islamic Jihad, armed with rifles and other weapons, stood in formation, displaying their group banners and wearing green headbands. Many residents of Gaza gathered to observe the event.
Israel confirmed on Friday that it had received the names of the hostages. Palestinian sources indicated that, in return for the four hostages, Israel is set to release 200 Palestinian prisoners. According to the Israeli Hostage and Missing Families Forum, the women released are Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, all aged 20, and Liri Albag, who is 19. These women had been held captive for over 15 months since Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas’s political bureau in Qatar, mentioned on Friday that Palestinians displaced by the conflict can begin returning to the northern region of Gaza following Saturday’s releases.
The truce has also allowed for an increase in humanitarian aid, including food, fuel, and medical supplies, into the heavily damaged Gaza. However, Israel’s ambassador to the UN confirmed that the UN agency responsible for Palestinian refugees must end its operations in Israel by next Thursday.
The release of the hostages is part of a delicate ceasefire arrangement between Israel and Hamas that started last Sunday, with hopes of leading to a more lasting peace. This agreement was brokered by mediators from Qatar and the United States just days before a significant political event.
Abu Obeida, a spokesperson for Hamas’s military wing, announced the planned release of the four female soldiers on Telegram. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed receipt of the hostages’ names through the mediators.
Vicky Cohen, the mother of one of the hostages, expressed her anxieties, saying, “The worry and fear that the deal will not be fully carried out is consuming us all.”
In Gaza, families who have been displaced by the ongoing war are eager to return to their homes, but many will find nothing but rubble where their houses once stood. One displaced woman, Theqra Qasem, lamented, “Even if we wanted to come back, there’s no place for us to set up our tents because of all the destruction.”
The current ceasefire is supposed to unfold in three phases, though the last two phases have yet to be finalized. During this first phase, which started on Sunday, 33 hostages identified as still alive are expected to be released in stages in exchange for approximately 1,900 Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
The initial day saw three hostages—Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher—returned to their families, while 90 Palestinians, primarily women and minors, were also released.
Though this deal is seen as a step towards peace, experts have raised concerns about its sustainability given the distrust between the two sides.
Tragically, Israel’s military response during the conflict has reportedly resulted in substantial civilian casualties, with estimates from the health ministry in Gaza indicating that at least 47,283 people have lost their lives, figures that the UN considers credible.
The truce also includes a withdrawal of Israeli forces from densely populated areas in Gaza, allowing for the return of displaced individuals. Almost the entire population of Gaza, which stands at around 2.4 million, has been affected by the conflict.
Recent reports from the United Nations highlight the extensive destruction in Gaza, with close to 69% of buildings either damaged or completely destroyed. Rebuilding is projected to take many years, potentially until 2040.
Despite the surge of humanitarian aid entering Gaza, the UN has stated that the situation remains critical. UN humanitarian agencies are facing restrictions, with the UNRWA having to cease its operations in Jerusalem and vacate its premises by January 30, 2025. The head of UNRWA warned that preventing the agency from functioning could jeopardize the fragile ceasefire, further diminishing the hopes of those suffering in the region.
