Hamas hands over four female soldiers held hostage to Israel, footage released of them being escorted by armed militants

Four Israeli female hostages, who were soldiers captured by Hamas fighters inside Israel on October 7, 2023, have been handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza.

The four Israeli soldiers, Karina Ariev, 20, Daniella Gilboa, 20, Naama Levy, 20, and Liri Albag, 19, left the central Palestinian square in Gaza City in International Red Cross vehicles.

Crowds of Palestinians who had gathered in the square watched as the hostages were released and loaded into vehicles.

Before they were released, a Red Cross delegate, sitting at a table in full view of the public and media in the square, signed unidentified documents alongside a Hamas fighter, writes € news, the Telegraph reports.

Then, minutes later, the four were led by Hamas gunmen to a stage where they were handed over to the crowd and the media.

It is known that the soldiers were captured by Hamas fighters from the Nahal Oz base near the Gaza border on October 7, 2023.

The kidnapped women had all served in a surveillance unit tasked with monitoring threats along the border.

#Hamas released four women Israeli soldiers from the # Gaza Strip on Saturday as part of the second captives-prisoners exchange under the #ceasefire deal, mediated by #Qatar, #Egypt and the #UnitedStates.# Israel will release 200 Palestinian prisoners later on the same day as part... pic.twitter.com/S8ZCbHgKRp

—Doha News (@dohanews) January 25, 2025

A fifth female soldier in their unit, Agam Berger, 20, was kidnapped with them but was not included in the list.

While it is reported that the Israeli army is prepared to receive the hostages and provide them with medical care and personal support at the initial reception points, then transfer them to hospitals and reunite them with their families.

In exchange for the four soldiers, Israel has planned to release 180 Palestinians from its prisons. /Telegraph/