Palestinian militant group Hamas is set to release three Israeli hostages on Saturday as part of an exchange deal involving Palestinian detainees, marking a significant step in the ongoing ceasefire aimed at ending the 15-month conflict in Gaza.
The hostages to be released are Ohad Ben Ami and Eli Sharabi, who were taken during the Hamas-led attack on Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7, 2023, and Or Levy, who was abducted from the Nova music festival that day. Hamas stated that in return, Israel will release 183 Palestinian prisoners, including some convicted of attacks that resulted in numerous casualties, with 18 serving life sentences and 111 held in Gaza since the war began.
Hamas fighters, masked and armed, have gathered in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, where the hostages will be handed over to the International Red Cross, which will then transfer them to Israeli forces.
For the families of the hostages, the wait has been filled with a mix of dread and hope as the reunion approaches. Michael Levy, brother of Or Levy, expressed overwhelming emotions at the imminent return of his brother, saying they are eager to reunite him with his son.
This exchange is part of a broader series of swaps that have returned 13 Israeli and five Thai hostages, alongside the release of 583 Palestinian prisoners. Despite some setbacks, the 42-day ceasefire and the hostage-for-prisoner exchange, brokered with US support and mediated by Egypt and Qatar, has largely held for nearly three weeks.
However, concerns over the deal’s collapse have surfaced following a controversial proposal by US President Donald Trump to relocate Palestinians from Gaza. The suggestion, which critics argue could amount to ethnic cleansing, has been rejected by Arab states and Palestinian groups, though Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has welcomed the idea.
The ceasefire deal envisions the release of 33 Israeli children, women, and vulnerable individuals in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Ongoing negotiations aim to finalize the return of the remaining hostages and work towards a full withdrawal of Israeli forces, signaling a potential end to the war.
Hamas-led gunmen attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages. In retaliation, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has resulted in more than 47,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza health authorities, and caused widespread devastation in the region.
