Second Hostage Exchange Occurs in Gaza
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Synopsis
On January 26, 2023, Gaza witnessed its second hostage exchange, where Hamas released four female Israeli soldiers for 200 Palestinian prisoners. This exchange is part of a six-week ceasefire initiated on January 19. The IDF confirmed the return of the soldiers, while the release of other hostages remains pending.
Key Takeaways
- Second hostage swap occurred in Gaza.
- Hamas released four Israeli soldiers.
- 200 Palestinian prisoners exchanged.
- Ceasefire began on January 19.
- Further negotiations expected for additional hostages.
Gaza, Jan 26 (NationPress) In a significant development, Gaza experienced its second hostage exchange as Hamas released four female Israeli soldiers in return for 200 Palestinian prisoners, part of a six-week ceasefire that commenced on January 19.
On Saturday morning, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency confirmed the safe return of the four female Israeli soldiers to Israel after they were transferred to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which acted as a neutral intermediary to facilitate the exchange process smoothly.
Emotional footage released by the IDF depicted the hostages reuniting with their families, sharing tears of joy.
However, not all Palestinian hostages were able to return home on this day, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
In a subsequent announcement, the Israel Prison Service confirmed that all 200 Palestinian prisoners scheduled for release had been liberated. The majority were sent to the West Bank, while around 70 were deported to Egypt via the Rafah crossing, according to reports from Palestinian sources and Egyptian media.
Israel stated it would restrict Palestinians from returning to northern Gaza until Arbel Yehuda, another female civilian hostage, was also released.
Yehuda was expected to be freed on Saturday along with three other female soldiers, but she was unexpectedly excluded from the exchange.
According to local Palestinian media, Yehuda was reported to be "alive and in good health" and would be released during the third swap scheduled for next Saturday.
This delay led Israel to block thousands of displaced Palestinians who had gathered along Al-Rasheed Street from returning to their homes in the northern region.
On the same day, Israeli forces tragically shot and killed a young Palestinian and injured several others as they attempted to return home in central Gaza, according to Palestinian medical sources.
Reports from Al-Awda Hospital in Al-Nuseirat refugee camp confirmed that one individual was killed and another injured near the entrance to the Al-Bureij refugee camp. Additionally, two other youths were wounded by Israeli gunfire targeting groups of citizens striving to return to northern Gaza.
The Israeli military announced that the ban on accessing the Nitzarim Corridor, which separates southern and northern Gaza and was established at the onset of the ground operations on October 27, 2023, would remain effective until the area is officially reopened to avoid clashes.
On Saturday, Hamas accused Israel of stalling the ceasefire agreement execution in Gaza, cautioning that such actions could threaten upcoming phases of the deal.
"The occupation is persistently delaying the ceasefire agreement and the prisoner exchange by keeping Al-Rasheed Street closed and preventing displaced individuals from walking back from the south to the north," the Palestinian group stated.
The ICRC expressed optimism that ongoing dialogues between the involved parties and their humanitarian commitments would foster the necessary conditions for the safe conduct of future exchange operations.
