Israel, Hamas begin prisoner exchange
Red Cross oversees first phase of swap under ceasefire plan
Israeli authorities and prison services readied facilities in southern Israel and the West Bank for the handover and reception of Palestinian detainees and Israeli hostages under the first phase of a mediated ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The exchange, arranged with mediation by the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey and overseen by the International Committee of the Red Cross, involves phased transfers from Gaza and designated corridors to Israeli-controlled reception points.
Hamas published names of 20 Israeli hostages it planned to release in the initial phase; Red Cross convoys were seen departing Gaza City after taking custody of released captives and transporting them to staging points and medical facilities. Israeli officials prepared military bases and hospitals to receive freed hostages and said a task force would be formed to help locate remains of any deceased captives. Of the 48 people taken on October 7, 2023, authorities say 20 are confirmed alive; others remain missing or dead.
In return, Israel is to free roughly 1,700 Palestinians detained in Gaza since the October 7 attacks, 22 Palestinian minors, and hand over the bodies of hundreds of militants. Later phases are expected to include release of additional living hostages, the bodies of deceased captives, and nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees and convicted prisoners overall. The exchange is being framed as a pivotal step toward pausing a conflict that has devastated Gaza and reshaped regional dynamics through clashes.
The operation’s success and prospects for a more durable cessation of hostilities are tied to broader diplomatic efforts, with world leaders scheduled to meet in a summit in Sharm el‑Sheikh to discuss commitments needed to consolidate a ceasefire and address humanitarian and reconstruction needs. Authorities on both sides stressed the complexity of coordinating secure transfers, identification of the dead, medical screening and follow‑up procedures as the multi‑phase operation proceeds.
