Hamas has announced the names of four Israeli female soldiers it plans to release this weekend as part of the ongoing ceasefire agreement with Israel. The four soldiers, who were captured during Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, have been held in Gaza for 15 months. They were identified as Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag.
However, following the announcement, Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, raised concerns that Hamas had violated the terms of the ceasefire. The agreement specified that all female civilian hostages should be released before any female soldiers, but the four soldiers were named for release before Arbel Yehoud, the last remaining female civilian hostage. Israeli media reported that Netanyahu consulted with security chiefs and decided to proceed with the deal, considering Hamas’s prioritization of soldiers over civilians as a breach, but not one significant enough to halt the agreement entirely.
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The deal, which is being executed in phases, has already seen the release of Israeli civilian hostages and Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. According to the ceasefire terms, hostages are to be released in stages, with women, children, the sick, and those over 50 in the first phase.
Hamas has stated that the female soldiers were part of an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) observation unit stationed near Nahal Oz on the Gaza border, where they were taken captive during the attack. Despite the ongoing ceasefire process, there are continuing tensions as Israel believes a significant number of hostages, including those still in Gaza, may have died, though Hamas has not confirmed these details.
This latest move comes amid broader negotiations for peace and prisoner exchanges, while Israel and Hamas continue to address the complex dynamics of the ceasefire deal.
