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Three Israeli Hostages Released in Exchange for 110 Palestinian Prisoners

Palestinian militants freed three Israeli hostages in exchange for 110 Palestinian prisoners amid an ongoing ceasefire. The hostages, including a female soldier, were handed over to the Red Cross before being transported to Israel for medical evaluation.

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Three Israeli Hostages Released in Exchange for 110 Palestinian Prisoners

Palestinian militants in Gaza freed three Israeli hostages Thursday as part of the latest phase of a ceasefire deal, in exchange for 110 Palestinian prisoners. The hostages, including a female soldier and two civilians, were handed over to the Red Cross before being transported to Israel for medical evaluation.

Israeli Hostages Handed Over in Gaza

One of the freed hostages, Israeli soldier Agam Berger, was photographed waving to the crowd from a podium in Jabalia, northern Gaza, before being taken to the Red Cross. Two other hostages, Gadi Moses, 80, and Arbel Yahud, 29, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz during Hamas’ October 7 attack, were photographed embracing in a separate swap in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. A video from Hamas ally Islamic Jihad showed masked gunmen supervising the handover.

The armed wing of Islamic Jihad confirmed the handover through Telegram, saying they “completed procedures to hand over two Israeli hostages.”

Israel Prepares for Hostages’ Arrival

An Israeli official was quoted saying that the three expected hostages would be moved to hospitals distributed across Israel, though where they ultimately will end up is ultimately up to their immediate health assessments when they arrive.

Protests were scattered in Tel Aviv as well, across Hostages Square, the middle of an active campaign that calls the Israeli government to finally take action in rescuing all still-held hostages.

Present ceasefire and past hostage release

Since the ceasefire began on 19 January, four Israeli female soldiers and three civilians have been released. In return, Israel has freed 290 Palestinian prisoners, most of whom were convicted of security offenses.

Hamas and its allied militant groups abducted over 250 hostages during their October 7 attack. Around half were freed in a previous truce in November, while others have been recovered, dead or alive, during Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

Israel still lists 90 hostages in Gaza, with at least 30 declared dead in absentia. The ceasefire negotiations continue as both sides navigate the complex hostage-exchange process.