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Four Israel hostages freed as Netanyahu stalls Gazans returning North

CGTN

The female Israeli soldiers were released on Saturday after being held captive since October in 2023. /REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
The female Israeli soldiers were released on Saturday after being held captive since October in 2023. /REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas

The female Israeli soldiers were released on Saturday after being held captive since October in 2023. /REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas

Four female Israeli soldier hostages were released after 477 days in captivity by Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday, in return for 200 Palestinian prisoners.

The exchange is in accordance with a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the 15-month-old war in Gaza.

The four were led onto a podium in Gaza City amid a large crowd before being handed to the Red Cross and transported across the border to an IDF facility and reunited with their families.

The soldiers - Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag - were all stationed at an observation post on the edge of Gaza and abducted by Hamas fighters who overran their base during the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Albag posted a picture with her parents onboard an Israeli Air Force helicopter, before heading to a hospital.

"I love you citizens of Israel, IDF soldiers. And my family!! I'm back," she wrote on a whiteboard.

The parents of the hostages clapped and cried out in joy when they saw them on screen, watching the handover live from a nearby military base. In Tel Aviv, hundreds of Israelis gathered at the Hostages Square, cheering as it was aired on a giant screen.

Released hostage Liri Albag reunited with loved ones in Israel./ IDF/Reuters
Released hostage Liri Albag reunited with loved ones in Israel./ IDF/Reuters

Released hostage Liri Albag reunited with loved ones in Israel./ IDF/Reuters

Gazan return on hold

But the joy in Israel was clouded by disappointment after a female civilian hostage wasn't freed. Arbel Yehud, 29, was abducted with her boyfriend from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz during the 2023 October attack. 

An Israeli military spokesman said it was a breach of the truce, while Hamas said it was a technical issue. A Hamas official said the group had informed mediators that she was alive and would be released next Saturday.

As a result, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Palestinians in Gaza would not be allowed to cross back to the northern part of the territory until the issue was resolved.

"Israel will not allow the passage of Gazans to the northern part of the Gaza Strip until the release of civilian Arbel Yehud, who was supposed to be released today, as arranged," a statement from Netanyahu's office said. 

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians had been displaced from northern Gaza during the war and many were expecting to return from Sunday. A Palestinian official said the mediators were working on resolving the matter.

Israel said 200 prisoners had been freed on Saturday as part of the exchange. 

They include 120 convicted militants serving life sentences for their involvement in attacks that killed dozens of people. Around 70 are set to be deported, Hamas said.

Displaced Palestinians wait to be allowed to return to their homes in northern Gaza./ Ramadan Abed/Reuters
Displaced Palestinians wait to be allowed to return to their homes in northern Gaza./ Ramadan Abed/Reuters

Displaced Palestinians wait to be allowed to return to their homes in northern Gaza./ Ramadan Abed/Reuters

Lebanese withdrawal

Meanwhile, the Lebanese army on Saturday said it was ready to deploy its forces in the country's south, accusing Israel of "procrastination" in its withdrawal in time for a deadline the following day.

Under the terms of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire that came into effect on November 27, the Lebanese army is to deploy alongside UN peacekeepers in the south as the Israeli army withdraws over a 60-day period that ends on Sunday.

Hezbollah is to pull back its forces north of the Litani River - about 30km from the border - and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south.

"There has been a delay at a number of stages as a result of the procrastination in the withdrawal from the Israeli enemy's side," the army said, confirming it was "ready to continue its deployment as soon as the Israeli enemy withdraws."

Netanyahu's office on Friday said the military's withdrawal would continue beyond the Sunday deadline stipulated by the deal.

Their statemnent said: "Since the ceasefire agreement has not yet been fully enforced by the Lebanese state, the gradual withdrawal process will continue in full coordination with the United States."

The Lebanese army accusation came after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on January 17 called for Israel to end its military operations and "occupation" in the south.

Source(s): Reuters ,AFP
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