Four Israeli Soldiers to Be Freed from Hamas Captivity Today
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Synopsis
On January 25, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office confirmed that four female soldiers will be released from Hamas captivity as part of a ceasefire deal. The soldiers, kidnapped on October 7, 2023, were named in a list received through mediators, raising concerns over the agreement's conditions.
Key Takeaways
- Four Israeli female soldiers to be released.
- Release is part of a ceasefire agreement.
- Israel will free around 200 Palestinian prisoners in exchange.
- Previous swap included three Israeli civilians and 90 Palestinian women.
- Concerns raised regarding compliance with the agreement.
Jerusalem, Jan 25 (NationPress) — The office of the Israeli Prime Minister announced that it has received from Hamas, via mediating nations, the names of four Israeli female soldiers set to be released from Gaza on Saturday as part of a ceasefire agreement.
The identified soldiers include Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, and Naama Levy, all aged between 19 and 20, who were taken hostage by Hamas from an Israeli army surveillance base at Nahal Oz on October 7, 2023, located near the Gaza Strip border, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Reports from Israeli media indicate that the list provided by Hamas contradicts the terms of the agreement, which stipulates that female civilians should be released prior to any other individuals.
According to Hebrew media sources, Israel consented to the release of the four soldiers after determining that the violation of terms was not significant enough to jeopardize the agreement.
The deal includes Israel's commitment to release approximately 200 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the four soldiers.
This marks the second prisoner exchange involving Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees under the Gaza ceasefire agreement, following the release of three Israeli civilian women and 90 Palestinian women and minors in the initial swap last Sunday.
In a brief announcement, Abu Obeida, spokesperson for Hamas' armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, confirmed that four Israeli females, all soldiers, would be released on Saturday.
Obeida shared the names of the soldiers that would be freed.
This announcement is part of a negotiated prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel, aiming to relieve ongoing tensions surrounding detainees from both sides.
However, Israel's state-run Kan TV reported that the list did not conform to the agreement's stipulations.
Israel's Channel 12 News revealed that, as per the agreement, female civilians should be prioritized for release over all other detainees.
The channel also mentioned that Israel has initiated consultations regarding the list provided by Hamas.
