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Four female Israeli soldier hostages handed over by Hamas under Gaza ceasefire


Hamas has handed over four female Israeli soldiers held in Gaza, as Palestinians in the West Bank await the release of detainees, in the second release of a fragile ceasefire.

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

In a clear show of force on Saturday morning, dozens of masked and armed Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants gathered at Palestine Square in Gaza City, where Red Cross vehicles pulled up to carry out the transfer.

Hamas has handed over four female Israeli soldiers held in Gaza, as Palestinians in the West Bank await the release of detainees, in the second release of a fragile ceasefire

Hamas has handed over four female Israeli soldiers held in Gaza, as Palestinians in the West Bank await the release of detainees, in the second release of a fragile ceasefire (AFP via Getty Images)

The militants set up a podium in Palestine Square where representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross signed documents confirming the handover, as thousands cheered from the crowd.

The women, wearing khaki-coloured military-style clothing, were walked by Hamas fighters onto the stage, where they gave thumbs-up gestures, peace signs, smiled, and waved at the crowd.

Karina Ariev, Naama Levy, Liri Albag and Daniela Gilboa – soldiers who were seized from their army base in southern Israel during the deadly 7 October, 2023, attack by Hamas

Karina Ariev, Naama Levy, Liri Albag and Daniela Gilboa – soldiers who were seized from their army base in southern Israel during the deadly 7 October, 2023, attack by Hamas (Bring Them Home)

The Israeli military later confirmed that the hostages had been transferred.

In Hostages Square, relatives of the captives and their supporters burst into tears, clapped, and hugged each other when the women entered the Red Cross vehicles.

Family members whose loved ones remain hostages but were not included in this phase of the release celebrated the release but told The Independent they felt mixed emotions.

Alana Zeitchik, who had six family members in total seized by Hamas on 7 October bloody attacks, said she was “holding on”.

Four of her captured relatives, including a cousin and her three-year-old twin daughters, were released in the last deal in November 2023. But Alana’s cousin David Cunio, 34, and his brother Ariel Cunio, 27 – both civilians – are not on the list of the first 33 to be released in the initial six-week phase. Alana is anxiously waiting to see if negotiations for a second phase of the ceasefire might start.

In Hostages Square, relatives of the captives and their supporters burst into tears, clapped, and hugged each other when the women entered the Red Cross vehicles

In Hostages Square, relatives of the captives and their supporters burst into tears, clapped, and hugged each other when the women entered the Red Cross vehicles (EPA)

“It’s not easy. It’s like pulling nails one by one,” she said.

Hamas, meanwhile, said that 200 Palestinian prisoners would be freed on Saturday as part of the exchange, including members of Islamic Jihad, Hamas, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), some of whom are serving life sentences for deadly attacks in Israel.

Around 70 prisoners will be deported, Hamas added. A Palestinian official close to the talks told Reuters that some of the freed prisoners will be released into Egypt. Some of them will stay in Egypt, while others may go on to Algeria, Qatar, or Turkey.

Crowds gathered around the release point anxiously waiting news.

Aman Nafe, the wife of the longest-serving Palestinian prisoner, Nael Barghouti, who has spent more than 40 years in Israeli jails, said that she had been told her husband was on the list to be released in the coming weeks but also that would likely be deported.

Palestinians gather before Hamas militants hand over the four hostages in Gaza City on Saturday

Palestinians gather before Hamas militants hand over the four hostages in Gaza City on Saturday (REUTERS)

She told The Independent she was worried her husband might refuse to be part of the deal if the condition of release included being deported and removed from his home and family.

The four Israeli soldiers released on Saturday were captured on 7 October 2023, when Hamas militants stormed southern Israel taking over 250 hostages and killed over 1,200 people. That triggered Israel’s devastating offensive in Gaza, which Palestinian officials say has killed over 47,000 people and displaced more than 90 percent of the population.

The four soldiers were taken from Nahal Oz base near the border with Gaza when Palestinian militants overran it, killing more than 60 soldiers there.

The women had all served in a unit of lookouts charged with monitoring threats along the border. A fifth female soldier in their unit, Agam Berger, 20, was abducted with them but was not included in the list.

More follows on this breaking news story…



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Hamas has handed over four female Israeli soldiers held in Gaza, as Palestinians in the West Bank await the release of detainees, in the second release of a fragile ceasefire.

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

In a clear show of force on Saturday morning, dozens of masked and armed Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants gathered at Palestine Square in Gaza City, where Red Cross vehicles pulled up to carry out the transfer.

Hamas has handed over four female Israeli soldiers held in Gaza, as Palestinians in the West Bank await the release of detainees, in the second release of a fragile ceasefire

Hamas has handed over four female Israeli soldiers held in Gaza, as Palestinians in the West Bank await the release of detainees, in the second release of a fragile ceasefire (AFP via Getty Images)

The militants set up a podium in Palestine Square where representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross signed documents confirming the handover, as thousands cheered from the crowd.

The women, wearing khaki-coloured military-style clothing, were walked by Hamas fighters onto the stage, where they gave thumbs-up gestures, peace signs, smiled, and waved at the crowd.

Karina Ariev, Naama Levy, Liri Albag and Daniela Gilboa – soldiers who were seized from their army base in southern Israel during the deadly 7 October, 2023, attack by Hamas

Karina Ariev, Naama Levy, Liri Albag and Daniela Gilboa – soldiers who were seized from their army base in southern Israel during the deadly 7 October, 2023, attack by Hamas (Bring Them Home)

The Israeli military later confirmed that the hostages had been transferred.

In Hostages Square, relatives of the captives and their supporters burst into tears, clapped, and hugged each other when the women entered the Red Cross vehicles.

Family members whose loved ones remain hostages but were not included in this phase of the release celebrated the release but told The Independent they felt mixed emotions.

Alana Zeitchik, who had six family members in total seized by Hamas on 7 October bloody attacks, said she was “holding on”.

Four of her captured relatives, including a cousin and her three-year-old twin daughters, were released in the last deal in November 2023. But Alana’s cousin David Cunio, 34, and his brother Ariel Cunio, 27 – both civilians – are not on the list of the first 33 to be released in the initial six-week phase. Alana is anxiously waiting to see if negotiations for a second phase of the ceasefire might start.

In Hostages Square, relatives of the captives and their supporters burst into tears, clapped, and hugged each other when the women entered the Red Cross vehicles

In Hostages Square, relatives of the captives and their supporters burst into tears, clapped, and hugged each other when the women entered the Red Cross vehicles (EPA)

“It’s not easy. It’s like pulling nails one by one,” she said.

Hamas, meanwhile, said that 200 Palestinian prisoners would be freed on Saturday as part of the exchange, including members of Islamic Jihad, Hamas, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), some of whom are serving life sentences for deadly attacks in Israel.

Around 70 prisoners will be deported, Hamas added. A Palestinian official close to the talks told Reuters that some of the freed prisoners will be released into Egypt. Some of them will stay in Egypt, while others may go on to Algeria, Qatar, or Turkey.

Crowds gathered around the release point anxiously waiting news.

Aman Nafe, the wife of the longest-serving Palestinian prisoner, Nael Barghouti, who has spent more than 40 years in Israeli jails, said that she had been told her husband was on the list to be released in the coming weeks but also that would likely be deported.

Palestinians gather before Hamas militants hand over the four hostages in Gaza City on Saturday

Palestinians gather before Hamas militants hand over the four hostages in Gaza City on Saturday (REUTERS)

She told The Independent she was worried her husband might refuse to be part of the deal if the condition of release included being deported and removed from his home and family.

The four Israeli soldiers released on Saturday were captured on 7 October 2023, when Hamas militants stormed southern Israel taking over 250 hostages and killed over 1,200 people. That triggered Israel’s devastating offensive in Gaza, which Palestinian officials say has killed over 47,000 people and displaced more than 90 percent of the population.

The four soldiers were taken from Nahal Oz base near the border with Gaza when Palestinian militants overran it, killing more than 60 soldiers there.

The women had all served in a unit of lookouts charged with monitoring threats along the border. A fifth female soldier in their unit, Agam Berger, 20, was abducted with them but was not included in the list.

More follows on this breaking news story…



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