Political | Process

Israel said it was expecting women and children civilians, not soldiers.

This is the second round of hostages freed since the deal took effect Sunday, Jan. 19.

The hostages are four female Israeli soldiers, 19-year-old Liri Albag and 20-year-olds Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa and Naama Levy, who were kidnapped on Oct. 7, 2023, in the Hamas attack that spawned the war.

The four women were seen in military uniforms handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross a few minutes after 4 a.m. ET (11 a.m. local) in Gaza City. Shortly after, the Israeli military confirmed.

“It was a much, much bigger circus than last week basically because Hamas is looking to portray to the world how good condition these four female hostages are in,” Jotam Confino, a Middle East reporter for The Telegraph.

Israel was initially expecting the release of two female civilians and two children. Soldier releases were not part of the swap.

“This caused a lot of anger. In Israel, they accepted, nevertheless, this exchange,” Confino said. “But in retribution and in a way to punish Hamas, they’ve said, ‘Until you release the last civilians from Gaza, we will not allow Palestinians to cross from southern Gaza to northern Gaza.’”

The White House released a statement on the hostages’ release: “Today the world celebrates as President Trump secured the release of four more Israeli hostages who were, for far too long, held against their will by Hamas in horrific conditions. The United States will continue with its great partner Israel to push for the release of all remaining hostages and the pursuit of peace throughout the region.”