Hamas Releases Two Israeli Hostages In Fourth Swap Under Gaza Ceasefire Deal

Last Updated:February 01, 2025, 12:52 IST

Yarden Bibas, 35, and French-Israeli Ofer Kalderon, 54, were both freed in a carefully organised handover in the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis

Palestinian Hamas militants and civilians gathering around a Red Cross convoy in Jabalia. (AFP file photo)

The Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday released two Israeli hostages to the Red Cross on Saturday as part of the fourth swap under a ceasefire agreement with Israel.

Yarden Bibas, 35, and French-Israeli Ofer Kalderon, 54, were both freed in a carefully organised handover in the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis. The two men had been taken during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which triggered the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

Shortly after their release, the Israeli military confirmed that the two freed hostages had crossed into Israeli territory. “A short while ago, the returning civilian hostages, Ofer Kalderon and Yarden Bibas, crossed the border into Israeli territory," the military said in a statement, adding that they were accompanied by Israeli forces.

A third hostage, American-Israeli Keith Siegel, 65, was also expected to be released on Saturday and was set to be handed over in Gaza City.

The truce, which began on January 19, is part of efforts to de-escalate the deadly conflict and has allowed for more humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza.

The deal is expected to see the release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners during its first six weeks.

While the deal has held for nearly two weeks, Israel has received information from Hamas that eight hostages, including those taken on October 7, may have been killed either in the attack or while in captivity.

(With inputs from agencies)

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News world Hamas Releases Two Israeli Hostages In Fourth Swap Under Gaza Ceasefire Deal