Hamas Hands Over Israeli Hostages in Exchange for Palestinian Prisoners as Truce Continues.
Gaza:
Hamas released three Israeli hostages on Saturday, marking a significant development in the ongoing truce between the militant group and Israel. The hostages, Ofer Kalderon, Yarden Bibas, and Keith Siegel, were handed over to Red Cross officials in separate locations in Gaza, with Kalderon and Bibas released in the southern city of Khan Younis, while Siegel was freed at the Gaza City seaport. The exchange was part of a broader agreement that has seen Palestinian prisoners and detainees released in return.
In total, 183 Palestinian prisoners and detainees were freed, with 150 arriving in Gaza and 32 others making their way to Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, where large crowds greeted their arrival. One of the freed individuals was exiled to Egypt, in line with the terms of the agreement. Ali Al-Barghouti, one of the prisoners freed, expressed his joy despite the hardships he had endured while serving two life sentences in an Israeli prison. “The life sentence was broken, and the occupation will one day be broken,” Al-Barghouti told the crowd in Ramallah.
The Rafah crossing on Gaza’s southern border also saw its reopening, allowing children suffering from cancer and heart conditions to leave Gaza for medical treatment in Egypt. However, Mohammad Zaqout, a senior health official in Gaza, criticized the limited number of patients allowed to travel, stating that approximately 18,000 people required better medical care.
In Israel, crowds gathered at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv to witness the handover of the Israeli hostages. There were mixed emotions, with some cheering and others in tears as Kalderon, Bibas, and Siegel were released. Kalderon’s two children, Erez and Sahar, were released in a previous exchange in November 2023. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his relief at Kalderon’s release, noting the 483 days of suffering he had endured.
Despite the ongoing hostilities, Hamas demonstrated its dominance in Gaza by parading its fighters around the area where the handovers took place. This was a reminder of the group’s continued control in Gaza, even after suffering significant losses during the war.
As of Saturday, the total number of hostages released stands at 18, including five Thais who were part of an unscheduled release earlier in the week. In return, Israel has released 583 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including militants serving life sentences for deadly attacks and others detained during the conflict.
