What we know about today’s exchange of captives and prisoners
Hamas and Israel are scheduled to conduct the next exchange of Israeli captives for Palestinian prisoners later today, this is what we know:
- Three Israeli captives are to be freed today in Gaza: Yarden Bibas, Keith Siegel, who also holds US citizenship, and Ofer Kalderon, who also has French nationality.
- Israel will then release 183 Palestinian prisoners from its jails, including 18 who are serving life sentences, 54 who are serving lengthy sentences, and 111 who were detained in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
- This will be the second exchange this week, and the fourth in total so far, of captives in Gaza for Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
- Following today’s exchange, the Rafah border crossing with Egypt is expected to reopen and 50 Palestinians requiring medical treatment will be allowed to leave Gaza for care in hospitals abroad.
- During the 42-day first phase of the ceasefire deal, a total of 33 captives are due to be freed in exchange for approximately 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
- Negotiations for a second phase of the ceasefire deal are scheduled to begin on Monday, according to a timeline provided by Israel.
- The second phase will address the release of remaining captives and a permanent end to the war on Gaza.
An aerial view shows a Palestinian flag on a damaged building at the site of an exchange of captives for prisoners in Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, on Thursday
Israeli military confirms two released captives have entered Israeli territory
The Israeli military and the Shin Bet internal security service have confirmed that Ofer Kalderon and Yarden Bibas are now out of the Gaza Strip and are on the way to an initial reception point in southern Israel.
Ofer Kalderon, a captive held in Gaza since the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, is released in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, February 1
The released captives will now undergo medical checks
We know that the 11th and 12th captives to be released of the 33 included in the framework of the deal have been taken away in Red Cross cars. The Israeli army met them, and they are making their way to an area called Reim, which is on the outskirts of Gaza. They will have these preliminary medical checkups to ensure they are well enough to travel.
I haven’t seen any helicopters yet, but they are usually taken by Israeli army helicopters and flown to a medical centre in Tel Aviv. They’ll meet with their initial, closest family members in Reim and then other family members and friends in the medical centre.
There have been scenes in what has become known as Hostage Square in Tel Aviv where people are celebrating their release.
‘Orderly, quiet and organised’: Hamas clearly learned lessons from previous captives’ release
Gershon Baskin, the Middle East director of the International Communities Organization, has told Al Jazeera that it is clear that the lessons from last Thursday’s captive release have been learned by Hamas.
“Today’s transfer of the two Israeli hostages has been orderly, quiet and organised,” Baskin, who was also a former hostage negotiator in Israel, said. He said the area in Khan Younis was cleared from civilians, the Hamas fighters had full control of the area and the release was done quickly.
Hundreds of fighters at Gaza’s port as third captive is released
Hundreds of masked Palestinian fighters of the Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing, have been seen at Gaza City’s port, as the third Israeli captive has been released as part of the ceasefire deal.
A stage was set up beside the Mediterranean and the Red Cross vehicles were seen at the scene ready to receive captive Keith Siegel. Heavily armed fighters were seen controlling and monitoring the area with civilians kept away from the captive release site.
Hamas was apparently sending a message of show of force to the world with the number of fighters and their heavy gear on the ground.
Palestinian Hamas fighters release Keith Siegel, a captive held in Gaza since the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, in Gaza City, on February 1
Essay Pro