Hamas hands over two Israeli hostages to Red Cross in Gaza VIDEO

Under the ongoing ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, two Israeli hostages were released to the International Red Cross in the southern Gaza Strip on February 1.

Yarden Bibas, 35, and French-Israeli Ofer Kalderon, 54, were handed over in an orderly exchange at Khan Younis, marking the fourth round of such exchanges since the ceasefire began on January 19, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

The truce, which has managed to hold for nearly two weeks, has brought a halt to the fierce fighting that escalated after Hamas' October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel. The ceasefire has provided a rare opportunity for humanitarian aid to reach the besieged region, while also facilitating these prisoner exchanges.

The two hostages released on February 1 had been abducted during the October 7 assault, which ignited the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. In addition to Bibas and Kalderon, American-Israeli Keith Siegel, 65, is also set to be handed over later on February 1, with the exchange taking place in Gaza City, further north.

As part of the ongoing truce, a total of 33 Israeli hostages are expected to be freed in return for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners over the six-week period. However, Israel has been informed by Hamas that eight of the initially captured hostages either died during the October 7 attack or in captivity.

مباشر من #قناة_العربية | بدء عملية التبادل الرابعة للأسرى في #غزة https://t.co/uPV7DT7T9H

— العربية عاجل (@AlArabiya_Brk) February 1, 2025

صور مباشرة.. الصليب الأحمر يتسلم بعد قليل ثالث رهينة في ميناء غزة #قناة_العربية pic.twitter.com/C7UHMtlBYt

— العربية عاجل (@AlArabiya_Brk) February 1, 2025

By Vafa Guliyeva