Second Phase of Hostage Exchange in Gaza
8
World
January 26, 2025 05:30
gaza - Hamas turned the hostage delivery into a show in the latest exchange with Israel, as 4 female soldiers were released in return for 200 Palestinian prisoners.
Hostage Exchange Turned into a Show
The second phase of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza involved the exchange of 4 Israeli female soldiers for 200 Palestinian prisoners. The ceremony organized by Hamas before the handover of hostages raised eyebrows.
Stage Performance
The preparations for the exchange began in the morning in Gaza, with hundreds of Hamas militants and thousands of Palestinians gathering at the Palestine Square. The Israeli soldiers, wearing costumes provided by Hamas, waved to the crowd with smiling faces as they were handed over to the Red Cross.
Following the soldiers' arrival in Israel, 200 Palestinian prisoners were released from Ofer and Ketziot prisons. Among them, 70 were deported through the Rafah Border Crossing to Egypt.
Civilian-Soldier Crisis
Israel expressed discontent over the release of soldiers instead of civilians in the exchange. An Israeli military spokesperson stated that Hamas violated the agreement by prioritizing soldiers, and demanded the release of civilians first.