Laila Kirkpatrick, Staff Writer
Hamas fighters released four additional hostages who were female Israeli soldiers who have been held in Gaza by the militant group since October 7th, 2023. Those released were Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, and Naama Levy. The hostages were returned on Saturday morning to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza. They were then transferred to Israeli troops who took them back to Israel.
Spectators watched the hostages as they were handed off to Red Cross representatives from buildings reduced to rubble and in wrecked vehicles. The women were released after a reported 477 days in captivity.
The hostages were shown on a live broadcast in Israel for a brief moment and could be seen smiling, giving thumbs up, and the two held each other’s hands. The four hostages released Saturday morning were freed as a part of the deal brokered by the U.S. Qatar, and Egypt which allows for a six-week ceasefire that began last Sunday. The cease-fire came after 15 months of war had ravaged Gaza and its people.
This latest hostage exchange came after Israelis expressed anger that Hamas was still holding civilians hostage despite having agreed to release civilian hostages ahead of Israeli soldiers.
