Families hope

Hamas handed over two more Israeli hostages

A couple watches the release of the hostages on February 1 at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv via live stream.(Bild: AFP )

As part of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and the radical Islamic Hamas, Islamist fighters in the Gaza Strip have handed over two more hostages to the Red Cross. Yarden Bibas and Ofer Kalderon were released on Saturday in the town of Khan Younis in the south of the Gaza Strip.

This time the handover took place quickly and in front of few people. On Saturday, another hostage was to be released on the basis of the current ceasefire agreement.

According to Israeli sources, all three are men with dual citizenship: Keith Siegel (65) is also a US citizen, Ofer Kalderon (54) is also French and Yarden Bibas (35) also has Argentinian citizenship. This is the fourth exchange of hostages and prisoners since the ceasefire on January 19.

Hamas hostage Arbel Yehoud after her release on January 30, 2025(Bild: AP)

16 months held hostage
The hostages, who were held hostage in the Gaza Strip for almost 16 months, are now to be taken to a hospital by the Israeli army. In return, dozens of Palestinian prisoners are expected to be released.

This is the fourth exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners since a ceasefire between Israel and the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip came into force on January 19. Since then, nine women, including five female soldiers, and six men, including five Thai workers, have been released.