Four Israeli Female Troops, 200 Militants Freed in Gaza Deal

Smiles, thumbs-up as Hamas stages handover in public square
Israel swaps 200 jailed Palestinians for the conscripts

Hamas fighters escort four Israeli hostages on a stage before handing them over to a team from the Red Cross in Gaza City, on Jan. 25.Photographer: Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP/Getty Images

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By Fadwa Hodali, Fares Alghoul, and Dan Williams

January 25, 2025 at 9:18 AM UTC

Updated on

January 25, 2025 at 4:19 PM UTC

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Hamas handed over four female Israeli soldiers it had held captive in Gaza, and 200 jailed Palestinian militants were freed on Saturday under the second swap of a week-old ceasefire deal mediated by Arab powers with Washington’s blessing.

The transfer of Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa and Naama Levy, all aged 20, and Liri Albag, 19, took place in a battle-shattered public square which Hamas, in a show of survival and defiance after 15 months of war, lined with masked and uniformed gunmen under the gaze of flag-waving supporters.