Jan. 25 (UPI) — Hamas released four hostages, all female soldiers, and Israel 200 Palestinian prisoners as the latest cease-fire exchange occurred Saturday.
The Red Cross received the four women, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag in Gaza City, and turned the soldiers over to Israel on Saturday.
The four women are between 19 and 20.
They are all in a stable condition, according to Beilinson Hospital near Tel Aviv.
“After an initial medical assessment, I am pleased to report that their medical condition is stable and we are here to provide them with the necessary care and emotional support,” said Dr. Lena Koren Feldman, the director of Beilinson Hospital, said.
“The emotional reunion with their families was a moment hard to describe in words – tears of joy, hugs that melt hearts.”
All four hostages were captured during the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.
The women were among seven female soldiers kidnapped from the Nahal Oz military base where they were lookouts observing activity inside Gaza.
“After 477 tumultuous days of pain, worry, and endless anxiety – we finally got to embrace our beloved Karina, hear her voice and see her smile that once again fills us with light,” Ariev’s family said in a statement.
Israel accused Hamas of violating the cease-fire terms by not releasing Arbel Yehud, a female hostage, the BBC reported.
“Israel has received four female hostage soldiers from the Hamas terrorist group today, and in return will release security prisoners,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a prepared statement.
“According to the agreement, Israel will not permit the passage of Gazans to the northern Gaza Strip until the release of civilian Arbel Yehud, who was supposed to be freed today,” Netanyahu said.
A Hamas official said she is alive and will be released next Saturday, but she is being held by the Islamic Jihad group and not Hamas, the Times of Israel reported.
Yehud, 29, and her boyfriend were at their home when Hamas captured them during the Oct. 7 attack of Israeli civilians.
Israel released 200 Palestinian prisoners, 70 of whom immediately were sent to Egypt for deportation to neighboring nations due to the nature of their criminal offenses.
Other prisoners will be transferred to Gaza or allowed to return to their homes in the East Jerusalem the West Bank.
Of the 200 prisoners Israel released, 121 were serving life sentences and 79 long-term sentences for the crimes of which they were tried and convicted.
Among them, 114 were released near Ramallah in the West Bank and another 16 in the Gaza Strip.
Another 70 were released at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza and are to be deported from the Palestinian territories as required by the cease-fire agreement.
A large crowd in Tel Aviv, Israel, cheerfully watched live footage of Hamas releasing the four hostages.
Similarly large crowds in Gaza celebrated the release of the 200 prisoners from Israeli prisons.