A prisoner swap deal is taking place between Israel and Hamas, with 110 Palestinian prisoners being released in exchange for eight hostages. The releases come hours after militants paraded the first hostage, a female soldier named Agam Berger, through a crowded Gaza refugee camp.
The deals are part of a six-week ceasefire plan agreed upon by Israel and Hamas, which aims to reduce violence in the region. The plan calls for the release of 33 hostages from Gaza, including women, children, older adults, and sick or wounded men, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
The releases were met with jubilation from Palestinians, who view their imprisoned loved ones as heroes. Rights groups have described harsh treatment of Palestinian prisoners since the start of the conflict.
Hamas has confirmed the death of a longtime leader, Deif, which was seen as a symbolic blow to the group. However, the deal remains fragile, and both sides are wary of each other’s intentions. A second phase of the ceasefire is set to begin, with Hamas demanding an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
The prisoner swap comes after 47,000 Palestinians were killed in Israel’s military operation, over half of them women and children. The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths on both sides, making it one of the deadliest conflicts in recent history.
As the situation remains tense, diplomats are working to negotiate a lasting peace deal between Israel and Hamas.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-ceasefire-hostages-01-30-2025-3cc7131495a60ce2bda73ca691abb7c8