Israel-Hamas Prisoner Swap: 21 Hostages Freed So Far—Will More Follow?
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Hashim Sheikh
- . February 8, 2025
- . Update: February 8, 2025 8:54 pm
On Saturday Hamas released three Israeli hostages in a prisoner exchange with Israel. The freed hostages were Or Levy, Ohad Ben Ami, and Eli Sharabi. They were kidnapped during the attack which started on October 7, 2023.
In return for this deal Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners who were sent to the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza.
Sources indicated that this handover happened in Deir El-Balah, central Gaza, where the hostages were brought on stage by masked gunmen before being handed to the Red Cross. The event was broadcast live, and the captives were forced to speak in favor of the ceasefire deal.
While their return brought relief their health conditions are not good, which is raising new debates about being inhumane at prisons.
The ceasefire is still in place and more hostage exchanges are expected. So far, 21 Israeli hostages have been freed, but 73 remain in captivity, including 34 believed to be dead.
