Hamas Set to Release Three More Israeli Hostages in Latest Gaza Ceasefire Exchange
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Hashim Sheikh
- . February 8, 2025
- . Update: February 8, 2025 2:55 pm
Hamas announced the release of three Israeli hostages on Saturday, as part of the agreement over the Gaza ceasefire, and it will be the fifth swap between the militant group and Israel. The three hostages, Eli Sharabi, Or Levy, and Ohad Ben Ami, will be released in exchange for 183 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, with Netanyahu’s office confirming their identities.
The exchange took place over a storm of controversy over US President Donald Trump’s proposal for American control of Gaza and the transfer of its Palestinian residents. The plan has met with strong resistance throughout the region, with Hamas terming it “absolutely unacceptable.” Later, Trump tried to downplay the urgency of his proposal in a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, saying there was “absolutely no rush” to push ahead with the controversial plan.
The current ceasefire agreement, brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, is set to ensure that 33 hostages will be released at the end of its first 42 days. Till now, Palestinian militants have released 18 hostages in exchange for nearly 600 Palestinian prisoners.
Recently released hostage Yarden Bibas appealed to Prime Minister Netanyahu emotionally, requesting him to make sure his wife and two children are released, who are still in captivity. Hamas has already claimed that the family members of Bibas were killed, which Israel has yet to confirm. Netanyahu said that he was “hopeful of completing the first stage of the ceasefire” but admitted that the next phase “would be much more complex.”
