Four Israeli women hostages were freed and returned home on January 25, 2025, after more than 15 months in captivity, marking a significant step in a fragile truce between Israel and Hamas.
The women were handed over by Hamas fighters to a Red Cross team in Gaza City, following a truce deal under which hostages are being swapped for Palestinian prisoners.
The release of the Israeli women, part of a broader agreement between the two sides, provides hope for further progress in ending the protracted conflict.
Israel confirmed that Palestinians would be allowed to begin returning to northern Gaza on Monday, with the agreement to release six more hostages, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
The deal comes amid a ceasefire that has significantly impacted Gaza, displacing nearly all of its residents.
Netanyahu’s office stated that three hostages would be released on Thursday, with another three scheduled for release on Saturday.
The breakthrough is seen as a pivotal moment in the conflict, with the potential for more exchanges under a deal intended to de-escalate hostilities and bring the 15-month-long war to an end.
Meanwhile, Palestinian leaders have strongly rejected a plan floated by U.S. President Donald Trump to forcibly displace Gaza’s residents.
Trump proposed relocating Palestinians to other countries, including Egypt and Jordan, describing Gaza as a “demolition site.”
Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas condemned the idea, calling it a violation of Palestinian rights, while Hamas vowed to resist any such efforts, recalling past resistance to displacement and alternative homeland plans.
The conflict over Gaza and the proposed displacement of its residents continues to fuel deep tensions, with Palestinians viewing any attempt to move them as a painful echo of the 1948 “Nakba,” when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced during the creation of Israel.