Gaza, February 1, 2025: In the latest phase of a truce aimed at ending the 15-month war in Gaza, the Palestinian militant group Hamas released three Israeli hostages on Saturday in exchange for dozens of Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
The freed hostages include Ofer Kalderon, a French-Israeli dual national, and Yarden Bibas, who were handed over to Red Cross officials in Khan Younis before being transferred to Israel. Separately, Israeli-American Keith Siegel was released at the Gaza City seaport.
Hours later, 183 Palestinian prisoners and detainees were released. Among them, 150 arrived in Gaza, while 32 were dropped off in Ramallah, where large crowds gathered to welcome them. One prisoner was reportedly exiled to Egypt, according to Hamas’s prisoners’ media office.
“I feel joy despite the pain and hardship we endured,” said Ali Al-Barghouti, a freed prisoner who was serving two life sentences in an Israeli jail. “The life sentence was broken, and one day the occupation will be too.”
At the Rafah border crossing, which was recently reopened, children suffering from cancer and heart conditions were among the first Palestinian patients allowed to leave Gaza for medical treatment in Egypt. However, Gaza’s health ministry official Mohammad Zaqout criticized the limited medical evacuations, emphasizing that around 18,000 patients require urgent care.
In Tel Aviv, crowds gathered at Hostage Square, watching the hostage release on giant outdoor screens. The moment was met with cheers, applause, and tears.
Meanwhile, in Gaza, Hamas fighters staged a show of force, parading through areas where the exchanges took place, signaling their continued control despite heavy wartime losses.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed relief at Kalderon’s release, stating: “We share the immense joy of his loved ones after 483 days of unimaginable suffering.”
Following Saturday’s exchange, Israel has now released 583 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including militants serving life sentences for deadly attacks and others detained during the war without charges.
Diplomatic efforts are intensifying to reach a broader resolution. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, with discussions likely to focus on the Gaza ceasefire and a possible postwar normalization deal with Saudi Arabia.
The current six-week truce, brokered by Egypt and Qatar with U.S. backing, remains largely intact despite sporadic accusations of violations from both sides.
However, a lasting settlement remains uncertain. The war began with a Hamas-led attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw over 250 hostages taken. Since then, Israel’s military campaign has resulted in over 47,000 Palestinian deaths, leaving Gaza in ruins and deepening hostilities on both sides.
While Israel insists that Hamas cannot remain in Gaza, Hamas continues to assert its presence, despite the loss of key leaders and thousands of fighters. The next phase of negotiations, set to begin by Tuesday, will determine whether further hostages will be released and whether Israeli troops will withdraw from Gaza, potentially paving the way for an end to the war.
