Hamas Has Released Four Israeli Women Soldiers As The Next Part Of The Ceasefire Deal
A video released Hamas showed the four women speaking in Arabic and thanking al-Qassam Brigades for taking care of them, providing them with food and clothes and protecting them from Israel’s bombing.
Hamas released the second wave of Israeli hostages on Saturday, Jan. 25, as part of its ceasefire deal with Israel.
The four released were women Israeli soldiers, who are Karina Ariev, 20, Daniella Gilboa, 20; Naama Levy, 20; and Liri Albag, 19.
A video released by the armed wing of Hamas, al-Qassam Brigades, showed the four women speaking in Arabic, thanking the al-Qassam Brigades for taking care of them, providing them with food and clothes and protecting them from Israel’s bombing.
It also showed Hamas fighters giving them gift bags and certificates before handing them over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza.
The four women soldiers then stood on a podium in Gaza, waving goodbye while being surrounded by crowds of Palestinians before getting in the ICRC’s cars to go back to Israel.
In exchange, Israel released the same day 200 Palestinians it had detained as part of the almost 2,000 Palestinians it should release as part of the first phase of the ceasefire deal.
Israel is expected to release 30 Palestinians for every civilian hostage Hamas releases and 50 Palestinians for every Israeli woman soldier Hamas releases.
However, Israel has accused Hamas of breaching the ceasefire deal for not prioritizing the release of civilian hostages, specifically a woman named Arbel Yehud, who was expected to be freed but was not included in this round.
Israel then announced it would not let displaced Palestinians return to their homes in north Gaza as planned until Yehud is released, Reuters reported.
Hamas said it will release Yehud next Saturday, Feb. 1, and said Israel's decision to stop Palestinians from returning to north Gaza is a violation of the ceasefire agreement, according to Al Jazeera.
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