By Maayan Lubell, Nidal al-Mughrabi and Dawoud Abu Alkas
JERUSALEM/CAIRO/GAZA (Reuters) -The Palestinian militant motion Hamas is anticipated to launch 4 feminine Israeli troopers on Saturday in change for a gaggle of Palestinian prisoners below a ceasefire settlement aimed toward ending the 15-month-old conflict in Gaza.
Dozens of masked and armed Hamas and fellow Islamic Jihad militants gathered at a sq. in Gaza Metropolis, the place a podium was arrange, as a crowd of Palestinians gathered spherical. A banner hanging off the stage learn in Hebrew “Zionism won’t prevail.”
A workforce from the Worldwide Committee of the Purple Cross in Gaza was on the way in which to gather the Israeli hostages from Hamas, an official concerned within the operation instructed Reuters.
The 4 troopers – Karina Ariev, Daniela Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag – had been all stationed at an commentary submit on the sting of Gaza and kidnapped by Hamas fighters who overran their base throughout the assault on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
One of many troopers’ was being held by Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian supply stated.
The Hamas prisoners media workplace stated it anticipated 200 prisoners to be freed on Saturday as a part of the change, together with 120 serving life sentences and 80 prisoners with different prolonged sentences.
Their identities haven’t but been revealed however they’re more likely to embrace members of militant teams convicted for lethal assaults that killed dozens of individuals.
A Palestinian official near the talks instructed Reuters that a few of the freed prisoners will probably be launched into Egypt. A few of these will keep in Egypt whereas others could go on to Algeria, Qatar or Turkey.
Saturday’s change could be the second for the reason that ceasefire started on Sunday and Hamas handed over three Israeli civilians in change for 90 Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas recognized on Friday the 4 hostages to be launched within the second swap. However Israel has not commented formally and should not achieve this till it really receives them.
The Purple Cross will obtain them from Hamas in Gaza and hand them over to Israeli forces who will transport them into Israel, the place they are going to be reunited with household, bear preliminary medical remedy and brought to hospital. One other feminine soldier kidnapped with them is anticipated to be launched within the coming weeks.
Video of the 4’s abduction aired in Could confirmed the 5 conscripts, pyjama-clad and shocked and a few bloodied, being sure and bundled right into a jeep. The footage was recovered from bodycams worn by gunmen who attacked the Nahal Oz base in southern Israel the place the ladies served as surveillance spotters.
PHASED CEASEFIRE
The ceasefire settlement, labored out after months of on-off negotiations brokered by Qatar and Egypt and backed by the USA, has halted the combating for the primary time since a truce that lasted only a week in November 2023.
Within the first six-week part of the deal, Hamas has agreed to launch 33 hostages, together with kids, girls, older males and the sick and injured, in change for tons of of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, whereas Israeli troops pull again from a few of their positions within the Gaza Strip.
In a subsequent part, the 2 sides would negotiate the change of the remaining hostages, together with males of army age, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, which lies largely in ruins after 15 months of combating and Israeli bombardment.
Israel launched its marketing campaign in Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas assault, when militants killed 1,200 individuals and took greater than 250 hostages again to Gaza, in line with Israeli tallies. Since then, greater than 47,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, in line with well being authorities there.
After the discharge on Sunday of hostages Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher and the restoration of the physique of an Israeli soldier lacking for a decade, Israel says 94 Israelis and foreigners stay held in Gaza. Round a 3rd have been declared lifeless in absentia by Israeli authorities.
