In a prisoner exchange agreement, Palestinian resistance group Hamas has released four Israeli female soldiers held captive in Gaza. The handover took place in a public ceremony at Palestine Square in Gaza, where the hostages were handed over to Red Cross officials.
According to Al Jazeera, the event was attended by representatives from Hamas and the Red Cross, who signed official documents for the release. The four Israeli soldiers, under the watchful guard of Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters, appeared on stage smiling and waving to the crowd, expressing relief and joy.
A large gathering of Gaza residents attended the ceremony, while families of the released soldiers and Israeli citizens watched the event unfold live on television.
In return, Israel is set to release 200 Palestinian prisoners today. Hamas has already shared the list of those to be freed, which includes 121 prisoners serving life sentences and 79 others facing lengthy terms. Among the released are elderly prisoners, including a 69-year-old, and a 15-year-old minor.
Earlier this week, Hamas freed three Israeli women in exchange for 90 Palestinian detainees. The released group included 69 women and 21 children.
Notable among those freed was Khalida Jarrar, a prominent Palestinian politician affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Jarrar, who hails from the West Bank, has been repeatedly imprisoned by Israeli authorities for her activism against Israeli occupation.
This exchange marks another significant chapter in the ongoing negotiations between Hamas and Israel over detainees and hostages.
