On January 25, 2025, four Israeli soldiers were released by Hamas in the Gaza Strip under the terms of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and the militant Islamist organization.

The soldiers, identified by the Israeli military as Liri Albag, Naama Levy, Karina Ariev, and Daniella Gilboa, were initially abducted from the Nahal Oz military base near the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023.

Following their release, the soldiers were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza City before being transferred to the Israeli military.

They have since returned to Israel, where they underwent medical examinations and were reunited with their families at a clinic near Tel Aviv.

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office issued a welcoming statement and released a video capturing the emotional homecoming.

The handover ceremony organized by Hamas was conducted in Gaza City.

The event was marked by a stage setup for the exchange, during which ICRC officials and Hamas representatives signed necessary documents.

The soldiers were briefly displayed to the assembled crowd, which included various symbols and messages from Hamas, before being escorted into Red Cross vehicles.

While these four hostages have regained their freedom, Israeli sources report that around 90 Israeli captives are believed to remain in Gaza, with over 30 presumed dead.

The ceasefire agreement includes plans for the release of 26 more hostages in the coming weeks, although the conditions suggest that some of these individuals may not have survived.

Part of a broader agreement framework, this hostage release involves the exchange of Israeli captives for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

For each Israeli soldier released, Israel has agreed to liberate 50 Palestinian detainees, including 30 serving life sentences.

The names of 200 Palestinian prisoners have been submitted by Hamas for release, with recent reports indicating that 70 of these prisoners have been transferred to Egypt, as per Egyptian state broadcaster Kahera TV.

In adherence to this agreement, prisoners convicted of serious offenses are barred from returning to Palestinian territories and are instead exiled.

Last week, Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners, a group composed of 69 women and 21 male youths.

Amidst this ongoing situation, hundreds of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv at a site known as 'Hostage Square' during the live stream of the release event, holding photos of those still detained in Gaza.

These gatherings reflect the complex and emotional landscape surrounding the exchange process, which continues to unfold under the current ceasefire terms.