In a significant development, Palestinian militant group Hamas is poised to release four female Israeli soldiers who have been held hostage in Gaza for over 15 months. The anticipated prisoner exchange, slated for Saturday, marks the second swap agreed to under the Israel-Gaza ceasefire deal brokered by Qatar and Egypt with U.S. backing.
Captive Soldiers Set for Freedom
The four Israeli servicewomen – Karina Ariev, 20; Daniella Gilboa, 20; Naama Levy, 20; and Liri Albag, 19 – have had no contact with the outside world since their abduction during a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which ignited the recent Israel-Gaza war. The women had been serving in a lookout unit tasked with monitoring threats along the border when they were taken hostage.
Families Await Longed-For Reunion
News of their impending release was welcomed by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, an advocacy group representing the captives’ loved ones. In a statement, the group expressed the nation’s anticipation:
An entire nation has fought for them and anxiously awaits their longed-for return to their families’ embrace.
Exchange Deal Moves Forward
The prisoner swap is part of a phased approach laid out in the ceasefire agreement. In the first 42-day phase, Hamas has committed to freeing all living female soldiers along with 33 hostages, including women, children, the ill, and those over 50. Israel, in turn, is expected to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Saturday’s exchange would be the second since the ceasefire took effect last Sunday, which saw Hamas release three Israeli civilians in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners. The Hamas prisoners media office stated it anticipates 200 prisoners to be freed on Saturday, including 120 serving life sentences and 80 with other lengthy terms.
Uncertainty Remains for Some Hostages
While the four servicewomen’s release brings relief to their families, the fate of other hostages remains uncertain. Notably absent from the list is Arbel Yehoud, the last female civilian captive, despite earlier Israeli expectations of her release this weekend. Moreover, Israel believes up to half of the 90-plus hostages still in Gaza may have perished, though Hamas has not provided definitive information on the number of survivors or the identities of the deceased.
A Fragile Ceasefire Holds
The prisoner exchange unfolds against the backdrop of a tenuous ceasefire agreement that has halted the fighting for the first time since a short-lived truce in November 2023. The deal, painstakingly negotiated over months with Qatari and Egyptian mediation and American support, offers a glimmer of hope for a resolution to the long-standing Israel-Gaza conflict.
As the region holds its breath, all eyes are on Saturday’s anticipated prisoner release. For the families of the captive soldiers, it promises a long-awaited reunion. For the wider populace, it represents a fragile but essential step towards a more stable and peaceful future.
