Hamas has handed over four female Israeli hostages in military uniform to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza City. They were led onto a podium surrounded by armed Hamas men before being placed in ICRC vehicles to be transported to Israeli forces. These hostages, who were held by Hamas since October 7, 2023, were released as part of a ceasefire and prisoner-hostage swap deal between Hamas and Israel. The Israeli army has confirmed that the hostages will undergo an initial medical assessment upon their return to Israel.
In Tel Aviv, crowds gathered at Hostage Square to follow the news of the release. Additionally, the ICRC has arrived at Gaza City Square in preparation for the handover. The list of 200 Palestinian prisoners set to be released by Israel in exchange for the Israeli hostages was released by Hamas. Meanwhile, 153 prisoners were released by Yemen’s Houthis with support from the ICRC in Sana’a.
The hostages could be released within the hour, according to BBC reports. A team from the ICRC in Gaza is en route to collect the hostages from Hamas. The images of the hostages being led onto the podium and then placed in ICRC vehicles have been widely circulated in the media. The release of the hostages is a significant development in the ongoing tensions between Israel, Hamas, and other groups in the region.
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