Hamas releases three Israeli captives in exchange for 183 Palestinians

Following 15 months of Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian organization Hamas released three Israeli hostages in two separate handovers in exchange for the release of 183 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. This marks the latest stage in the gradual exchange of hostages under a ceasefire agreement.

According to Al Jazeera, Ofer Kalderon, who holds dual French and Israeli citizenship, and Israeli citizen Yarden Bibas were transferred to the Red Cross in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. Approximately an hour later, Keith Siegel, who holds dual US and Israeli citizenship, was handed over to Red Cross officials in northern Gaza.

After the three Israeli hostages arrived in Israel, the fourth exchange began, releasing 183 Palestinian prisoners in accordance with the ceasefire agreement reached on January 19th. At least 73 of these Palestinians had previously been sentenced to long prison terms, even life sentences. The first bus carrying 32 Palestinians arrived from Israel’s Ofer prison to Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, greeted by cheering relatives. Among those released was an unnamed elderly Palestinian man who was transported in a wheelchair.

Of the 183 Palestinians released on Saturday, 111 were arrested by Israeli forces in Gaza after October 7, 2023. They were released in Gaza on Saturday, including seven who were deported by Israel through Egypt. Cheers erupted as buses carrying prisoners arrived at the European Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Al Jazeera’s reporter, Tareq Abu Azzoum, reported from Khan Younis that the International Committee of the Red Cross sent two teams to the European Hospital and the Kerem Abu Salem crossing to assess the prisoners' health.

It is estimated that approximately 4,500 Palestinian prisoners are held in Israeli jails, 310 of whom are held under so-called “administrative detention” without the right to a trial. Basel Farraj, an analyst at Birzeit University, stated that the release of Palestinian prisoners “does not end” the brutal treatment Palestinians face in Israeli prisons. He said Palestinians are seen as “second-class citizens” by Israeli authorities. He also warned that Israel is likely to rearrest some of those released, as it has done with previous detainees.

Earlier on Saturday, in Khan Younis and Gaza City, hundreds of Hamas fighters lined up to maintain order as the Israeli hostages Kalderon, Bibas, and Siegel were released. The three hostages have arrived in Israel, where they will undergo initial medical checks before meeting their families. Bibas's wife and two young children were also captured by Hamas, and their fate remains unknown. Al Jazeera’s Abu Azzoum, reporting from the release site in Khan Younis earlier, said that this handover was “very well organized” compared to previous releases. He said, “The scene was quite incredible, with no stampedes observed that we have seen before. Usually, these handovers are done under very tense circumstances.”

Professor Luciano Zaccara, a Middle East political expert at Qatar University, said that the latest hostage release proves that Hamas is still “capable of organizing and managing the situation in Gaza,” despite months of Israeli bombing. He told Al Jazeera, “Despite the Israeli claim that Hamas has been destroyed, the scenes we are witnessing let you know that Hamas is still there. The exchange is proceeding smoothly, and we hope the second phase of the ceasefire will start as planned.”

As part of the ceasefire agreement, the Rafah crossing also opened for the first time in nearly nine months, allowing sick and injured Palestinian patients in Gaza to travel to Egypt for treatment. The Gaza Health Ministry said on Saturday that 50 patients had reached Egypt from the Rafah crossing. Al Jazeera’s reporter Hani Mahmoud reported from Gaza City that each Palestinian patient was allowed to be accompanied by three family members. However, Gershon Baskin, an Israeli columnist based in West Jerusalem, noted in an interview with Al Jazeera that there is “very little talk” in Israel about the opening of the Rafah crossing.

With the first phase of the ceasefire expected to conclude on Saturday, negotiations regarding the second phase of the agreement are set to begin on Tuesday. The talks will cover the release of the remaining 60-plus hostages, the release of more Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The initial six-week ceasefire agreement was brokered by Egyptian and Qatari mediators and supported by the US, and has so far remained on track, despite some incidents that led to both sides accusing each other of violating the agreement. According to Israeli figures, the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, killed 1,139 people and captured more than 250. According to Gaza health authorities, the Israeli military operation following the Hamas attack has devastated large parts of the densely populated Gaza Strip and led to the deaths of over 47,000 Palestinians.