Four more Israeli hostages by Hamas as ceasefire continues.

Hamas released four Israelis in Gaza on Saturday morning in exchange for the release of 200 Palestinian prisoners that day. As it happened, it was the second release Part of the ceasefire agreement It started last weekend.

A large crowd gathered in a Palestinian square in northern Gaza as he handed over the hostages to the Red Cross. A number of armed Hamas militants gathered around the platform, where they were wearing uniforms and chanting Hamas slogans. Drones were seen dropping small packages into the crowd, which Israeli media reported contained candy.

Karina Ariev, 20; Daniella Gilboa, 20; Naamah Levy, 20; and Leary Albagh, 19, were captured by Hamas October 7 2023 terrorist attack It sparked the Israel-Hamas war. About 1,200 people were killed in Israel and more than 47,000 in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.

On October 7, the four female soldiers were kidnapped from the Nahal Oz military base, on the border with northern Gaza, when Palestinian militants prevailed.

Before their release, members of the Red Cross appeared on stage in Palestine Square and signed documents with Hamas militants.

The four Israeli women arrived in the square in a car. They appeared on stage dressed in military uniforms, smiling, waving and waving to the crowd. Then they got into a Red Cross truck and started their journey from Gaza.

In Tel Aviv, crowds gathered to celebrate the hostages’ return to Israel after 476 days of captivity.

More than 60 other soldiers were killed at the Nahal Oz base in the Oct. 7 terror attack, and another female soldier was kidnapped from the same unit, though she was not included in Saturday’s evacuation.

Leary Albaugh’s family said she was able to relay messages through other hostages who had previously been released.

Before today’s release, seven Israeli women were believed to have been detained in Gaza, including five members of the IDF and two civilians. One of the civilians who was abducted was Arbel Eyud. Kibbutz Nir Oz.

Another is an Israeli civilian. Shiri BibasShe was taken with her two young children, Ariel and Kfir. Hamas claimed that Shri, Ariel and Kfir were later killed in an Israeli bombardment in Gaza.

In a television interview in June, then-Israeli Prime Minister Benny Gantz indicated that the government knew what had happened to the Bibas family, but said he could not provide details.

Under the ceasefire and hostage release agreement, civilian hostages were to be freed before the military, and Yuhud was expected to be among the four freed on Saturday.

“Hamas initially failed to fulfill its obligation to release the Israeli female hostages as part of the agreement,” IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a statement after the release. “We are committed to the return of Arbel Yuhud, an Israeli citizen kidnapped from Nir Oz, as well as Shiri Bibas and her two children, Kfir and Ariel. We are deeply concerned for their safety. We appreciate the efforts of all international mediators. We expect the United States, Qatar and Egypt to ensure that Hamas abides by the agreement.”

Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office has announced that the exchange of Palestinian prisoners will continue, but that people in Gaza will not be allowed to cross the Netzarim Corridor.

Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement: “Today, Israel kidnapped four female soldiers from the terrorist organization Hamas, and in return will release the security prisoners with a key.” “According to the agreement, Israel will not allow the passage of Gazans to the northern Gaza Strip – until the release of Arbel Yuhud, a citizen who was supposed to be released today.”

According to Al Jazeera, a senior Hamas official said that Yud would be released next Saturday.

The 200 Palestinian prisoners in Israel, including 121 serving life sentences, are expected to be released. They are expected to be sent to Gaza, Egypt and other countries in the region.

After Saturday’s exchange, Israeli troops are expected to begin withdrawing from the central road that divides northern and southern Gaza from east to west, called the Netzarim Corridor. Palestinian civilians who were They were displaced from northern Gaza. Although they are only allowed to travel on foot at this stage of the ceasefire, they must be able to go back.

Some displaced Palestinians who were able to return to their homes in the south following the first hostage and prisoner exchange last weekend found nothing but rubble and, in some cases, the remains of loved ones killed in the conflict.

of Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage release agreement It is expected to come in stages.

The first phase, which began last Saturday, involved Hamas freeing 33 hostages over a six-week period. They include women over 50, children and hostages, according to a draft seen by CBS News.

Three hostages were released by Hamas on the first day of the deal. On the seventh day – today – four hostages were released.

After that, Hamas is expected to take three hostages from Israel every seven days, starting with the living and then moving to return the bodies of the dead.

More than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israel are also expected to be released in the first phase.