Day 477 - Amid Hamas pomp, 4 female soldier hostages released

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute
audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and
the Jewish world.


Military reporter Emanuel Fabian joins host
Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's special update.


This morning, four female soldiers held hostage by Hamas for 477
days — Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag
— were released by the terror group after being paraded through a
Gaza City square and made to participate in a demeaning ceremony
before being handed over to the Red Cross.


Hamas "gift bags" in hand, the four young women returned to
Israel and were reunited with their families at the IDF base near
Re'im, mere kilometers from the Gaza border. 


Fabian reminds listeners of Hamas's murderous October 7, 2023,
takeover of the Nahal Oz IDF base that saw 66 soldiers murdered
and seven female surveillance officers taken prisoner. 


We hear what we currently know about the physical health of the
four released today and details from the handover.


Fabian also updates us on Israel's response to Hamas's overt
violation of the ceasefire-hostage release deal which should have
seen female civilian Arbel Yehud -- and any other living female
civilian and children -- released ahead of the female
soldiers.

For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s
ongoing live blog.


Discussed articles include:


4 female soldier hostages freed by Hamas, paraded on Gaza
stage, returned to Israel


Israel blocks Palestinians from returning to north Gaza
after Hamas breaks truce terms


Bibas family: ‘World came crashing down’ when Shiri, kids
weren’t slated for release


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podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.


IMAGE: A Palestinian woman throws confetti as Hamas fighters
prepare to hand over four Israeli hostages to a Red Cross team
from a stage at a square in Gaza City on January 25, 2025. (Omar
AL-QATTAA / AFP)


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