Gaza: Hamas has released three Israeli hostages—Keith Siegel, Ofer Kalderon, and Yarden Bibas—at separate locations in northern and southern Gaza, handing them over to the Red Cross.
According to Al Jazeera, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society has confirmed that 183 Palestinian detainees will be released from Israeli prisons as part of the fourth prisoner exchange under the ceasefire agreement.
Humanitarian Evacuations & Israeli Military Operations
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that 50 critically ill Palestinians will be allowed to leave Gaza via the recently reopened Rafah border crossing with Egypt for medical treatment.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces continue their military operations in the occupied West Bank, targeting Jenin, Tulkarm refugee camps, and other Palestinian communities. Over two dozen Palestinians have been killed in the past week alone.
Death Toll from Ongoing Conflict
Since Israel’s assault on Gaza began on October 7, 2023, at least 47,460 Palestinians have been killed, and over 111,000 injured. In the same period, Hamas-led attacks in Israel resulted in 1,139 Israeli deaths, with over 200 hostages taken. The ongoing prisoner exchange process is part of a negotiated truce.
Hamas Ensures Swift Hostage Release
Gershon Baskin, a former Israeli hostage negotiator and Middle East Director of International Communities Organization, told Al Jazeera that Hamas had “learned from past experiences” and handled the hostage transfer smoothly and efficiently this time.
“The transfer was calm and well-organized. The area in Khan Younis was cleared of civilians, and Hamas militants maintained full control, ensuring the release was completed without issues,” he added.
Israel’s Colonial Strategy & Forced Deportations
Dr. Basil Farraj, an assistant professor at Birzeit University and an expert on political prisoners, criticized Israel’s decision to deport certain freed Palestinian prisoners.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, he said, “We’ve seen Palestinian detainees forcibly sent to Egypt, and it’s unclear whether this is temporary or permanent exile.”
He described this move as a form of collective punishment, depriving prisoners and their families of reunion after years of separation.
“This is part of Israel’s broader colonial strategy—criminalizing Palestinian resistance and using exile as a tool of repression,” Dr. Farraj added.
Additionally, he noted that some families of previously released prisoners were later denied permission to leave the Palestinian territories by Israeli authorities.
The prisoner swap remains a key humanitarian and political issue as ceasefire negotiations continue.
