Sat Feb 01 12:37:15 IST 2025: ## Prisoner Exchange Under Gaza Ceasefire Sees Hundreds Released
**Ramallah & Khan Younis, Gaza –** In a significant development under the Gaza ceasefire, Hamas released three Israeli captives – Ofer Kalderon, Yarden Bibas, and Keith Siegel – on Saturday, leading to the release of 183 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. The exchange, the fourth under the January 19th ceasefire agreement, unfolded in two separate handovers overseen by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Kalderon and Bibas were released in Khan Younis, while Siegel was released in Gaza City. The simultaneous release of the Israeli captives triggered the immediate transfer of Palestinian prisoners, with buses carrying 32 prisoners initially arriving in Ramallah, West Bank, to jubilant welcomes. A further 111 Palestinians, including seven deported via Egypt, were released in Gaza. Notably, 73 of the released Palestinians had been serving lengthy sentences, including life imprisonment. Many of the released Palestinians were captured after October 7, 2023, following the Hamas attack.
The handover in Khan Younis was described as “well-organized” by Al Jazeera reporters, a contrast to previous exchanges. However, analyst Basil Farraj warned that Israel might re-arrest some of the released Palestinians, echoing past practices. The fate of Bibas’ wife and children, also captured by Hamas, remains unknown.
The prisoner exchange coincided with the reopening of the Rafah border crossing, allowing 50 sick and wounded Palestinians to travel to Egypt for treatment after nearly nine months of closure. The event, however, received little attention in Israel, according to Israeli columnist Gershon Baskin.
The completion of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement sets the stage for negotiations on the second phase, beginning Tuesday. These talks will focus on the release of the remaining 60 captives, further prisoner releases, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. The initial six-week ceasefire, brokered by Egypt and Qatar with US backing, has largely held despite minor incidents. The October 7th Hamas attack claimed the lives of 1,139 Israelis and resulted in over 250 Israeli captives. The subsequent Israeli military response caused the deaths of over 47,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health authorities. The successful exchange suggests Hamas remains capable of organizing large-scale operations despite the extensive Israeli military campaign.
First Piper 