Hamas militants on Saturday released four female Israeli soldiers they held captive for 15 months in a planned exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners or detainees in Israel. (Production by Wafaa Shura

The hostage exchange is the second since the current ceasefire agreement. It is expected that by the end of the first phase of the deal's completion, 33 Israeli hostages will have been freed in exchange for the release of around 1,900 Palestinian detainees.

Hamas released four Israeli hostages in Gaza early Saturday in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners to be released later in the day. It was the second release to occur as part of the ceasefire agreement that began last weekend.

An Israeli military helicopter transporting released Israeli hostages, who have been held in Gaza since the deadly October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, as part of a prisoner-hostage exchange deal between Israel and Hamas, arrives at Beilinson Schneider complex, in Petah Tikva, Israel, January 25, 2025. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

All are Israeli soldiers, an apparent breach of Hamas' ceasefire agreement with Israel, which stipulated that civilian women be released first.

Karina Ariev, Danielle Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag returned to Israel after being released by Hamas and reunited with their families. The four served as surveillance soldiers at the Nahal Oz military base on the border with Gaza when they were taken hostage on Oct.

Hamas says it will release four female IDF soldiers including Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag in second hostage release in a possible violation of the ceasefire agreement.

Hamas was set Saturday to release four Israeli women held as hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in the second swap under the ceasefire deal in Gaza. The four women are Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa,