Hamas has announced plans to release four female Israeli soldiers held captive in Gaza this weekend as part of a continuing ceasefire agreement between the group and Israel. In a statement on Telegram, Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, identified the four women as Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag. The soldiers, part of an Israel Defence Forces (IDF) observation unit, were captured in Nahal Oz during Hamas's 7 October 2023 attack on southern Israel. However, the name of Arbel Yehoud, the last known female civilian hostage, was not included. This omission has sparked controversy, with speculation that Yehoud, who holds dual German-Israeli citizenship, may be held by another militant faction, Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Israeli officials had previously anticipated her release this weekend. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has expressed concern over Hamas's decision to prioritise releasing soldiers over civilians, viewing it as a breach of the ceasefire agreement. Nevertheless, Netanyahu decided to proceed with the deal, describing the violation as not severe enough to derail the process. Under the terms of the agreement, Hamas is obligated to release female civilians first, followed by female soldiers, older hostages, and those in poor health, in exchange for Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons. Israeli negotiators noted Hamas's claim that securing the release of hostages held by other factions presents additional challenges. The first phase of the ceasefire deal, implemented last weekend, saw three Israeli civilian hostages and 90 Palestinian prisoners freed. The ongoing exchange is expected to involve dozens of Israelis and hundreds of Palestinians, alongside increased humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza. Daniel Levy, a former Israeli negotiator, described Israel’s insistence on continuing its military campaign while engaging in prisoner exchanges as a significant provocation, alongside its actions in the West Bank. Israel estimates that between a third and half of the hostages in Gaza may have died. Hamas has yet to release comprehensive details on the number of surviving captives or those who have died. According to the deal, 33 hostages are set to be freed in the initial stage, including women, children, the elderly, and the seriously ill. This phase also commits Hamas to releasing all female soldiers. The four soldiers were members of an all-female IDF surveillance unit tasked with monitoring activity along the Gaza border. Reports suggest the unit had raised concerns about suspicious movements in Gaza before the 7 October attack, which were reportedly dismissed by their superiors. The Guardian reported that one of the captives, Naama Levy, was seen bloodied and bound in footage circulated after the attack. Another, Liri Albag, appeared exhausted and pale in a video released by Hamas, where she urged the Israeli government to agree to a ceasefire. Albag’s parents pleaded with Netanyahu to “act as if your own children were there.” (with inputs from The Guardian)
