Fri Jan 24 21:59:21 IST 2025: ## Hamas to Release Four Israeli Female Soldiers in Prisoner Exchange
**GAZA CITY/JERUSALEM** – Hamas announced Friday that it will release four Israeli female soldiers on Saturday as part of a prisoner exchange with Israel, marking the second such swap since a ceasefire went into effect. The names of the soldiers were provided to the Israeli government, although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has yet to publicly confirm them. The exchange is expected to begin Saturday afternoon.
This follows Sunday’s release of three Israeli women and 90 Palestinian prisoners, the first exchange under the ceasefire agreement. While the initial agreement stipulated the release of 50 Palestinian prisoners for every female Israeli soldier, this latest exchange may deviate from that ratio, with reports suggesting a release of approximately 200 Palestinian prisoners.
Discrepancies exist regarding the list of Palestinian prisoners to be released. Reports indicate that Israel had prioritized the release of certain civilians before soldiers and those deemed extremely ill, a sequence allegedly not followed in this exchange.
The ceasefire, brokered by Qatar and Egypt with US backing, ended weeks of intense fighting. The first phase saw Hamas release 33 captives in exchange for a large number of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. Subsequent phases will address the release of remaining captives and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
The conflict, which began in October 2023, has resulted in a devastating toll: at least 47,283 Palestinians killed and 111,472 wounded in Gaza, and at least 1,139 Israelis killed and more than 200 taken captive. The ongoing prisoner exchanges represent a crucial step in the fragile peace process, but significant challenges remain.
First Piper 