JERUSALEM/CAIRO/GAZA: Hamas freed four female Israeli soldiers on Saturday in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners, but a delay in freeing another hostage prompted Israel to block hundreds of thousands of Gazans from returning to the enclave’s bombed-out north.
The four Israelis freed in the second swap of the week-old Gaza truce were led onto a podium in Gaza City amid a large crowd of Palestinians and surrounded by dozens of armed Hamas men. The hostages waved and smiled before being led off, entering Red Cross vehicles to be transported to Israeli forces, a British wire service reported.
Soon after, buses carrying released Palestinian prisoners were seen departing from the Israeli Ofer military prison in the occupied West Bank. Israel’s Prison Service said all 200 had been released.
The releases on either side were greeted by cheering crowds, including Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv and Palestinians assembled in Ramallah.
But the failure of Hamas to release another hostage, a female Israeli civilian, led Israel to announce it was halting plans to let Palestinians return to northern parts of Gaza, the area worst hit in the war.
Hamas, which considers the return of Gazans to their homes to be one of the principal elements of the ceasefire, said it would free the hostage next week, and called the halt to the reopening of the north a violation of the truce.
Israel says it will not allow return of Palestinians to northern Gaza until an issue involving the release of captive Arbel Yehoud is resolved.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Kassem has spoken to Al Jazeera Arabic over the phone from Gaza. He says that Israel is “still procrastinating in implementing what was agreed upon” and that the group sent a message through mediators that the Israeli captive Arbel Yehud is alive.
The truce calls for Hamas to release 33 women, children, elderly, sick and wounded hostages over a six-week first phase, with Israel freeing 30 prisoners for each civilian and 50 for each soldier.
The four Israeli soldiers freed on Saturday -- Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag -- had all been stationed at an observation post on the edge of Gaza when Hamas fighters overran their base and abducted them during the Oct 7, 2023 attack on Israel that precipitated the war.
Their parents clapped and cried out in joy when they saw them on screen, watching the handover live from a nearby military base across the border. In Tel Aviv, hundreds of Israelis gathered at a rallying point now widely referred to as Hostages Square, crying, embracing and cheering as the release was aired on a giant screen.
As Palestinians were gathering in preparation for their return to northern Gaza, the Israeli army opened fire. Aljazeera reported that people were setting up their makeshift tents as they waited to receive permission to cross the Netzarim Corridor and head back to their homes.
One person was confirmed killed in al-Rasheed Street as they were waiting to cross into northern Gaza. At least other three people were injured.
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