Sheba Hospital Says Three Freed Hostages Are in Stable Condition
New York TimesJan 22
Hamas Publishes List of Female Hostages to Be Released Saturday
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Above: A pedestrian walks past a wall of graffiti in the Israeli town of Kfar Saba on January 24, 2025, calling for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza since the Oct. 7, 2023 attack. Image copyright: Jack Guez/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
Hamas on Friday released a list of female hostages who are expected to be freed on Saturday. Those set for release are reportedly four female soldiers who were captured from the Nahal Oz military base during the group's Oct. 7 attack.
Israel claimed that the list is a violation of the cease-fire agreement, saying the deal stipulates that female civilian hostages must be released before female soldiers. Israel reportedly told Hamas on Wednesday that it expects the group to release Arbel Yehud, a civilian hostage, on Saturday.
Officials have indicated that for every female soldier freed, Israel will release 50 Palestinian prisoners. For the deal's first phase, Hamas is expected to release 33 hostages, with negotiations for the exchange of the remaining captives and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza expected in the second phase.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
It is paramount that the cease-fire in Gaza holds and the release of Israeli hostages continues. This terrible war must end, and the cease-fire deal should not be undermined by insignificant discrepancies.
Pro-Israel narrative
Though Hamas is in violation of the cease-fire agreement, Israel will go ahead with the hostage release because freeing the hostages has been the primary goal of this war. This clearly violates the agreement, but Israel will move ahead, as collapsing the deal at this point benefits no one.
Pro-Palestine narrative
It is important to recognize the context behind this exchange: Hamas is releasing soldiers captured in a war largely in exchange for Palestinian civilians kidnapped by Israeli forces without charge. These individuals were detained illegally so that they could be used as bargaining chips in negotiations.
