Fri Jan 31 21:37:39 IST 2025: ## Israel and Hamas Complete Fourth Prisoner Exchange

**GAZA CITY/JERUSALEM** – Israel and Hamas completed their fourth prisoner exchange under the Gaza ceasefire agreement on Saturday, releasing 183 Palestinian prisoners in return for three Israeli captives. The exchange, initially reported to involve 90 Palestinian prisoners, saw a significant increase in the final number released.

The freed Israelis are Ofer Kalderon (Israeli-French), Yarden Bibas (Israeli), and Keith Siegel (Israeli-American). Bibas’s release is particularly significant, as it addresses a previous sticking point in negotiations regarding the release of prisoners under 50. Siegel’s wife was released in a previous exchange, while Kalderon’s children were also previously returned. The fate of Bibas’s wife and children, however, remains unclear, with Hamas claiming they were killed in an Israeli bombardment.

The 183 Palestinian prisoners released fall into two categories: 72 arrested before the October 7th Hamas attacks on Israel, and 111 arrested after the attacks. The exchange comes after previous prisoner swaps, including one on Thursday which saw further Israeli and Thai captives released, alongside a significant number of Palestinian prisoners. The process on Thursday was reportedly marred by chaotic scenes.

The deal has drawn both praise and criticism. While Palestinians view the return of their prisoners as a symbolic victory, some Israelis criticize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for not securing a prisoner exchange earlier in the conflict and for the terms of the current agreement, which leaves the fate of many other captives uncertain. Further negotiations are scheduled for March 1st regarding the release of additional captives and a full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza.

The ongoing conflict has resulted in a devastating loss of life, with over 1,139 deaths in Israel from the October attacks and over 47,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. The prisoner exchanges represent a small step towards a potential end to hostilities, but the path to lasting peace remains fraught with challenges.

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