Three Israeli hostages are freed by Hamas as Israel is due to release 369 Palestinian prisoners in exchange. The sixth swap of the ceasefire comes after there were fears the deal could collapse this week. Follow updates in this live page.
Saturday 15 February 2025 10:59, UK
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Three Israeli hostages freed as release of 369 Palestinian prisoners under way
Sixth swap of ceasefire deal comes on week where agreement was in jeopardy
Watch:Moment three Israeli hostages released
Who are the freed Israeli hostages?
What do we know about the Palestinian prisoners?
Explained: The stages of the ceasefire
Live updates by Adam McGroarty
The ceasefire in Gaza is a “very fragile process” and the main challenge lies in the second phase of the deal, Haaretz columnist Gideon Levy has said.
Speaking to our presenter Samantha Washington, Levy said he believes the first phase of the deal will be implemented, but warned he was “sceptical” over the second phase of the ceasefire.
“I have no reason to believe why Hamas doesn’t want to get to the second phase, because it means ending the war,” he said.
“My main concern is the refusal of the Israeli side and mainly Benjamin Netanyahu to end the war. That’s the core issue from now on.”
An update from the Palestinian Red Crescent, which says its crews have transferred four released Palestinian prisoners to hospital.
It says the released prisoners were taken to hospital due to their “critical health condition”.
Israel is expected to release a total of 369 Palestinian prisoners today.
We’ve got some more details to bring you on some of the Palestinian prisoners among the 369 expected to be released by Israel today.
Mansour Moqeda
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club says Mansour Moqeda has been detained since 2002, and will now be released.
Moqeda was left partially paralysed after sustaining severe injuries during fighting in the town of Siniriya.
It describes Moqeda as the “longest-serving sick prisoner” in Ramla prison, adding her was later transferred to Ofer prison.
Iyad Haribat
The prisoners’ club says 41-year-old Iyad Haribat is also among those set to be released, and describes him as one of the “most severe medical cases”.
It says Haribat was subjected to “harsh and violent” interrogation for more than three months before his arrest, before he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Since 2014, the prisoners’ club says his health has “significantly deteriorated” after suffering from what it describes as “difficult health conditions”.
Ahmed Taleb Mustafa Barghouti
Arrested in 2002 during a raid on an apartment in Ramallah, the prisoners’ club says Ahmed Taleb Mustafa Barghouti will also be released.
He was sentenced to 13 life sentences and 50 years in prison after being convicted of planning and carrying out dozens of armed operations.
The prisoners’ club says he was transferred between “numerous Israeli prisons” and went on several hunger strikes with fellow prisoners.
In our last post we brought you the news that a bus carrying Palestinian prisoners has arrived in Ramallah in the West Bank.
We can now bring you these latest pictures showing the prisoners celebrating after being released.
A bus carrying Palestinian prisoners has arrived in Ramallah in the West Bank.
In exchange for the three hostages released earlier this morning, Israel will release a total of 369 Palestinian prisoners today.
Some reaction to bring you from Benjamin Netanyahu, who has said he welcomes the return of three Israeli hostages “with open arms”.
“We were prepared for their return, and together with their families, we will assist in their rehabilitation after the long agonising days in captivity,” his office said in a statement.
Turning to Donald Trump’s comments urging Hamas to release Israeli hostages, Netanyahu thanked the US president for his “clear and unequivocal statement”.
“Hamas reversed its position and the release of the hostages continues,” the statement added.
“We are fully coordinated with the US in order to extract all of our hostages – both living and deceased – as quickly as possible.”
For context: Trump said the Gaza ceasefire should be cancelled if all remaining Israeli hostages were not returned by noon today.
He warned Hamas “all hell is going to break out” if the hostages were not released, but said “I’m speaking for myself, Israel can override it”.
It came hours after Hamas said it would delay the release of more hostages, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire deal.
Three Israeli hostages were led on stage in front of a large crowd and flanked by militants before they were transferred over to the Red Cross.
Watch the video below to see the moment they were released.
Israel Defence Forces has said it is accompanying the three hostages on their return to Israeli territory.
In a statement, the IDF said the hostages will undergo a medical assessment upon their return.
On the stage, a message is being displayed in response to Donald Trump’s Gaza “takeover” plan.
The message reads “no migration except to Jerusalem”.
For context: The US president doubled down on US plans to take over Gaza in a meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah II this week.
He reiterated his plans to displace two million Palestinians, which he said was a “very small number of people”.
Trump also said he believes there will be “parcels of land” in Jordan, Egypt and “someplace else” where Palestinians will live “happily and very safely”.
We’re now seeing the three Israeli hostages being led outside.
They have been taken to a podium with militants flanking on either side.
It appears they were briefly interviewed by Hamas while on stage, with Arabic media reporting what they said.
Sagui Dekel Chen called for the Israeli government to do everything to continue the ceasefire deal, according to reports.
Iair Horn and Alexander Troufanov said “their time is running out” when referring to the other hostages being held in Gaza.
In exchange for the hostages, 369 Palestinian prisoners are expected to be freed by Israel.
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