Hamas Releases Four Israeli Hostages in Exchange for Palestinian Prisoners

On Saturday, Hamas handed over four Israeli women hostages to the Red Cross as part of a truce agreement in the Gaza war. The women, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag, had been held captive for over 15 months since Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

The handover took place in a main square in Gaza City, where armed militants gathered to oversee the event. In exchange for the hostages, Israel is set to free 200 Palestinian prisoners.

This release is part of an ongoing effort to ease tensions in the region, and Palestinian sources say displaced people in southern Gaza will be allowed to return to the north after the handover.