Hamas has identified four Israeli soldiers, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag, as the next hostages to be released this Saturday as part of the ongoing Gaza ceasefire agreement. This release will coincide with the liberation of 180 Palestinian prisoners currently detained in Israel, marking the second exchange since the truce began last Sunday.
In the initial exchange, three Israeli hostages and 90 Palestinian prisoners were freed. This ceasefire, which came into effect after months of negotiations mediated by the US, Qatar, and Egypt, aims to end the hostilities that erupted following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. That attack resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and the capture of 251 hostages. Since then, Israel’s military response has led to over 47,200 Palestinian deaths, predominantly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.
Notably absent from the list for Saturday’s release is Arbel Yehud, a civilian thought to be held by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), explaining her exclusion. Hamas is also expected to provide updates on the status of an additional 26 hostages due for release over the next five weeks, including the Bibas family, with young Kfir, who was only 10 months old at the time of his capture, being the youngest hostage involved.
The prisoners to be released in this exchange are considered more serious offenders than those in the first batch, including individuals convicted of murder and serving long sentences. Israel has made it clear that none involved in the October 7 attacks will be released.
The four soldiers named were taken from the Nahal Oz military base during the initial assault. Footage has shown them in distressing situations, pleading for help.
The ceasefire agreement is structured in three phases, with the second phase set to start six weeks in, involving the release of about 1,900 Palestinian prisoners for 33 hostages and the partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, allowing displaced Palestinians to return home. The ultimate goal is a permanent cessation of hostilities.
Currently, 91 hostages from the October 7 incident remain in Gaza, with 57 believed to be alive. Three hostages, including two still alive, have been held for over a decade. Previously, three women hostages, Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari, were released and reunited with their families in Israel.