Hamas Frees 3 Hostages, Israel Releases 183 Palestinian Prisoners in Ceasefire Exchange/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Hamas freed three hostages Saturday, including American-Israeli Keith Siegel, as part of the fourth exchange in a ceasefire deal with Israel. In return, Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners, with most returning to Gaza and the West Bank. The truce has paused fighting for two weeks, allowing aid to flow into Gaza and families to reunite. However, uncertainty looms as Hamas demands a complete Israeli withdrawal before releasing more hostages. Israel remains committed to eliminating Hamas, while ceasefire negotiations for a second phase are set to begin next week.
Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Exchange: Quick Look
- Three hostages released, including American-Israeli Keith Siegel and French-Israeli Ofer Kalderon.
- 183 Palestinian prisoners freed, including seven serving life sentences deported via Egypt.
- Ceasefire has lasted two weeks, allowing aid and displaced Palestinians to return home.
- Israel and Hamas to negotiate a second phase next week, aiming for an extended truce.
- Concerns grow over missing Israeli hostages, including Shiri Bibas and her two sons.
- Rafah border crossing reopened, allowing 50 sick and wounded Palestinian children to leave Gaza for medical care.
Hamas Frees 3 Hostages, Israel Releases 183 Palestinian Prisoners in Ceasefire Exchange
Ceasefire Exchange: A Deep Look
Three Hostages Released by Hamas
The three hostages freed on Saturday were taken during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
- Keith Siegel (65, American-Israeli) – Kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, his wife Aviva was released in November 2023.
- Ofer Kalderon (54, French-Israeli) – Captured from Kibbutz Nir Oz, his two children were freed last year.
- Yarden Bibas (35, Israeli) – His wife and two young sons remain missing, with Hamas claiming they were killed in an Israeli airstrike—a claim Israel has not verified.
Thousands in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square cheered as footage of the freed captives flashed across large screens, while family members celebrated emotional reunions.
Israel Releases 183 Palestinian Prisoners
In exchange, Israel freed 183 Palestinian prisoners, most of whom were arrested after October 7.
- 111 prisoners returned to Gaza.
- 32 were sent to the West Bank, greeted by crowds celebrating their release.
- Seven prisoners serving life sentences were deported via Egypt.
Ceasefire Provides Temporary Relief to War-Torn Gaza
The truce has halted 15 months of war, allowing:
- Humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, with the Rafah crossing reopening for medical evacuations.
- Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return home, though many find their neighborhoods in ruins.
- Ongoing negotiations between Israel and Hamas, aiming to extend the ceasefire indefinitely.
However, tensions remain high, as Israel vows to continue military operations against Hamas, and far-right members of Netanyahu’s coalition push for the war to resume.
Uncertain Future: What Comes Next?
- Hamas refuses to release more hostages unless Israel ends the war and withdraws from Gaza.
- Israel still aims to dismantle Hamas, despite the temporary ceasefire.
- If no agreement is reached, fighting could resume in early March.
As negotiations for a second phase of the ceasefire begin next week, the world watches to see if the fragile truce can hold or collapse into renewed violence.
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