Two hostages were released and handed over to Israel on Saturday, marking another step in the ongoing hostage exchange under the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
Yarden Bibas (35) and Ofer Kalderon (54), a French-Israeli national, were freed by Hamas as part of the fourth round of exchanges, where Palestinian prisoners are also being released in return.
The handover took place in Khan Younis, where the two hostages were escorted to the stage by Hamas, acknowledging the crowd before being transferred.
This release follows nearly two weeks of calm under the truce, which has been in place since January 19, allowing humanitarian aid to enter Gaza and reducing regional tensions.
Both hostages were captured on October 7, 2023, during the Hamas-led attack, which escalated into the ongoing conflict. Under the broader hostage-prisoner exchange deal, Israel is expected to release dozens of Palestinian prisoners, while about 33 Israeli hostages in total are set to be freed in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees.
Meanwhile, Israeli families remain anxious for the release of other hostages, including 65-year-old American-Israeli Keith Siegel, who is expected to be handed over to the Red Cross later on Saturday.
Israeli officials have confirmed that Hamas provided information indicating that eight hostages, including some taken in the October attacks, have died, raising further concerns about the well-being of those still in captivity.
The six-week ceasefire remains fragile, with Israeli leadership facing pressure from hardline factions to resume military operations. As negotiations continue for a second phase, Hamas is demanding a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war, while Israel weighs its next move in the evolving situation.
