Hamas released four Israeli soldiers Saturday in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners or detainees in the second hostages-for-prisoners swap under the Gaza ceasefire deal.
The four women smiled, waved and gave the thumbs-up to the crowd from a stage in Palestine Square in Gaza City. There were militants from the U.S.-designated terror group on either side of them, and a crowd of thousands watched before the female Israeli soldiers climbed into waiting Red Cross vehicles.
Observers say the four likely were acting under duress. Hostages from earlier releases have said they were held in extremely harsh conditions and forced to record propaganda videos.
Israel's Prison Service reported it completed the release of 200 Palestinians. That includes 120 who had been serving life sentences after being convicted of deadly attacks against Israelis. About 70 were released into Egypt, according to Egypt's state-run Qahera TV.
Thousands of Palestinians were in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah to greet the buses carrying the prisoners, and many waved Palestinian flags or the flags of different political factions.
In Tel Aviv's Hostages Square, hundreds of people cheered as they watched the release of the four Israelis on a huge television screen.
"I'm speechless," said Aviv Bercovich, one of the onlookers. "I had goosebumps watching them. I just want the war to end."
Egypt, Qatar and the U.S. mediated the talks that led to the three-phase truce.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office later released a video showing the freed hostages being welcomed at an Israeli army base.
The four women are Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa and Naama Levy, Hamas said. All four women are Israeli soldiers who were abducted from the Nahal Oz base in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched its terror attack and killed 1,200 people and took 250 others hostage.
Israel's counteroffensive in Gaza has killed more than 47,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and fighters but has previously said more than half of those killed have been women and children. Israel's response also has displaced most of the territory's population and destroyed most of the enclave.
In the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, Hamas is expected to release 33 hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, increased humanitarian aid and a withdrawal of the Israeli military from some parts of Gaza.
A day ahead of the exchange, the United Nations Human Rights Office warned that increased violence in the occupied West Bank could threaten the ceasefire in Gaza.
Since Tuesday, Israeli operations in the West Bank have killed at least 12 Palestinians and injured 40 others, "most of them reportedly unarmed," United Nations Human Rights office spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said.
"It is very concerning that what's happening today in the West Bank may have an impact on the ceasefire in Gaza. It is imperative that the ceasefire in Gaza holds," he said.
Israel has occupied the West Bank of the Jordan River, which Palestinians want as the center of an independent state since the 1967 Middle East war.
Most countries view the Jewish settlements that Israel has built there as illegal, though Israel cites historical and Biblical ties to the land.
Finally on Saturday, several media outlets reported that U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to release a hold placed on a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel. Trump issued the order Friday. The hold was placed on the shipment by then-President Joe Biden, who was concerned about the use of the large bombs in the densely populated Gaza Strip.
Some information in this report came was provided by The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
