Hamas released four female Israeli soldiers from Gaza on Saturday as part of a ceasefire deal, handing them over to Red Cross officials at Palestine Square in Gaza City.
In exchange for this release, Israel is expected to free 200 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
Israel will not allow civilians to return to northern Gaza until the release of Israeli civilian Arbel Yehud can be arranged, the office of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
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On the morning of January 25, a new group of Israeli hostages was released from Gaza, including four soldiers who were serving on Israel's border at the time of the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. However, the ceasefire and hostage-release deal stipulates that civilians should be released first, and then be followed by releasing captive Israeli soldiers.