Three Israeli captives released in exchange for 183 Palestinians

Hamas released three Israeli hostages held in Gaza on Saturday, while Israel stated that it had released 183 Palestinian detainees from various prisons in the country. This operation is part of the first phase of a ceasefire agreement, aiming to de-escalate tensions in the region.

The released Israelis were identified as 52-year-old Ilay Sharabi, 34-year-old Or Levi, and 56-year-old Ohad Ben Ami. They were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, after being photographed on a stage in front of a large crowd. The ICRC will provide necessary medical and logistical support to the released individuals.

Numerous masked Palestinian militants stood guard at the scene, guiding the three men on and off the stage before transferring them to the Red Cross vehicles. Simultaneously, video footage showed a bus carrying Palestinian detainees arriving in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank and Khan Yunis in Gaza on Saturday afternoon, coming from Israel's Ofer prison. These events mark a significant step in the ongoing exchange process.

Since the ceasefire agreement came into effect on January 19, 21 Israeli and Thai hostages and 566 Palestinian detainees have been released. Among the Palestinians released on Saturday, 18 were serving life sentences, 54 were serving long-term sentences, and 111 were detained after October 7, 2023. According to an Israeli military statement, these prisoners were all men between the ages of 20 and 61, and were released to the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza. This release aims to foster goodwill and build trust between the involved parties.

Among the Palestinian prisoners released was Jamal Tawil, a senior Hamas figure, aged 61, and a former mayor of the village of al-Bireh near the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah. He had been detained by Israel multiple times over the past two decades, most recently in 2021 under administrative detention. Seven of the Palestinians released on Saturday will be transferred to Egypt and subsequently deported. Their release is a complex decision, considering their past involvement with Hamas.

The Palestinian Prisoners' Media Office stated on Saturday that Israeli forces raided the homes of several Palestinian prisoners who were about to be released. These raids took place across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported that seven released Palestinians were taken to hospitals on Saturday, some in serious condition. According to Al Jazeera, Tawil was among those taken to the hospital, indicating potential health concerns among the released detainees.

The three Israeli hostages are expected to be transferred to hospitals in central Israel after initial examinations at an army facility near the Gaza border. Sharabi and Ben Ami were abducted during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in 1,100 deaths and the abduction of approximately 250 people to Gaza. Sharabi's wife and two teenage daughters were killed on October 7. His brother Yossi was also abducted in the attack, and Israeli authorities have confirmed his death, highlighting the profound personal losses suffered by these families.

Ben Ami's wife, Raz, was abducted on October 7 and later released in November 2023 as part of a temporary ceasefire agreement. Levi was abducted at the Nova music festival in southern Israel. His wife, Eva, 32, was killed by Palestinian militants at the event, underscoring the tragic circumstances surrounding their abduction and the devastating impact on their families.

The first phase of the ceasefire agreement includes the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian detainees, the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces to surrounding areas. The second phase is expected to begin 42 days after the start of the ceasefire, at which point all Israeli hostages will be released in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, aiming to achieve a more comprehensive and lasting peace.

Hamas officials stated on Tuesday that the second phase of contacts and negotiations had begun, but provided no further details. The third phase of the ceasefire agreement, if reached, would involve plans for the post-war governance of Gaza, as well as a three-to-five-year reconstruction project overseen by international actors. This phase aims to rebuild Gaza and establish a stable and sustainable future for its residents.

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters this week that he could not confirm whether the ceasefire agreement would last. During a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump stated that the U.S. would "take over" the Gaza Strip and "own it," forcibly removing Palestinians from the enclave. Such a statement introduces uncertainty regarding the future of the agreement and the region.

Trump said, "If necessary, we'll do that; we'll take over that place. We'll develop it, create thousands and thousands of jobs, and it will be something that the whole Middle East can be proud of." Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, stated that a third-phase ceasefire agreement is not currently achievable, further complicating the prospects for long-term peace and stability.

Senior Hamas official Basem Naim told Middle East Eye that Trump's plan is a "crime against humanity, a law of the jungle at the international level." He said that Hamas believes Trump is interfering in "a topic that should not concern him." Naim added that Hamas is committed to the ceasefire agreement, but that "any manipulation in the implementation of the agreement could lead to its collapse," highlighting the fragility of the current situation and the need for careful adherence to the terms of the agreement.