Four Israeli Hostages Released in Phase 1 of Ceasefire Deal
January 26, 2025
1:05 PM
Reading time: 4 minutes

On Saturday, four Israeli hostages—Karina Ariev, Liri Albag, Daniella Gilboa, and Naama Levy—were released after 477 days of captivity. Their return marks the latest milestone in the ongoing hostage-ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. Ahead of the release, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants, along with civilians, gathered in Palestine Square, Gaza City, where the four hostages were paraded on stage.
They were seen holding bags similar to those carried by the three hostages released the previous week. These bags contained completion certificates and photos documenting the hostages' time in captivity. A banner reading "Zionism won’t win" was displayed in Hebrew, alongside Palestinian flags, further highlighting the charged political context of the event.
Details of the Hostage-Ceasefire Agreement
The deal stipulates the release of 33 hostages during the first 42-day phase, in exchange for the release of Palestinian security prisoners, humanitarian aid, and a partial IDF withdrawal from Gaza. Under the terms, Israel is to release 30 Palestinian detainees for every civilian hostage and 50 Palestinian detainees for every Israeli female soldier released.
The four released hostages were transferred to the Red Cross and brought to the Gaza border before boarding an Israel Air Force (IAF) helicopter with their families, landing at Petah Tikva's Rabin Medical Center for medical care. They are reportedly in stable condition.
Reactions from Israeli Leadership
President Isaac Herzog and Defense Minister Israel Katz expressed their joy and commitment to continuing efforts to bring all hostages home. Herzog emphasized that Israel will not rest until every captive is returned, including Arbel Yehoud, a civilian still in captivity.
“We will not relent or give up,” said Katz. “We will do everything until all the hostages, both living and dead, are returned to Israel.”
However, despite the progress made, the ceasefire agreement hit a roadblock on Saturday. Hamas failed to provide Israel with the list detailing the status of all hostages, as stipulated in the agreement. Israeli officials are concerned that this constitutes another violation of the ceasefire terms. Furthermore, Arbel Yehoud, a civilian, was not released as planned, complicating the situation. Israel has made it clear that it will not allow Gazans to cross into the northern Gaza Strip until Yehoud is freed.