Kathmandu, January 26
Hamas freed four Israeli female hostages on Saturday, prompting Israel to release 200 Palestinian prisoners. The exchange occurred on the seventh day of the ceasefire agreement’s implementation.
The released hostages, who had been captured by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, attack, have now returned to Israel. This marks the second group of hostages freed by Hamas. Last Sunday, on the first day of the ceasefire agreement, Hamas released three other female hostages.
Despite the exchange, tensions remain. The Israeli government has accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire deal by not releasing Israeli citizen Arbel Yehuda. In response, Hamas clarified that Yehuda is alive and will be released next week.
Israel has also announced it will not allow displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza, as initially outlined in the ceasefire agreement.
The situation highlights ongoing challenges in the fragile truce, with both sides expressing dissatisfaction over certain terms of the agreement.
