The latest hostage-prisoner swap under the Gaza ceasefire raises concerns about future negotiations
As part of an ongoing ceasefire agreement, Hamas-led militants will release three Israeli civilian hostages on Saturday in exchange for 183 Palestinian prisoners, Israeli and Hamas officials confirmed. This marks the fifth exchange since the truce began on January 19.
The hostages set for release are Eli Sharabi (52), Ohad Ben Ami (56), and Or Levy (34). Sharabi and Ben Ami were abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri, one of the hardest-hit areas during the October 7 Hamas attack, while Levy was taken from the Nova music festival, where he had been sheltering in a safe room.
The Palestinian prisoners being freed include 18 serving life sentences for deadly attacks, 54 with long-term sentences, and 111 from Gaza detained after October 7. While Israel views them as terrorists, many Palestinians consider them fighters against occupation.
So far, 18 Israeli hostages and over 550 Palestinian prisoners have been freed under the first phase of the ceasefire, which aims to secure the release of 33 hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 prisoners. The agreement also facilitates the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza and increases humanitarian aid.
However, the truce’s second phase faces uncertainty. Donald Trump’s recent proposal to deport the Palestinian population from Gaza—a move widely condemned by the international community—could complicate further negotiations. Hamas may hesitate to release additional hostages without guarantees on Gaza’s future, knowing that its captives remain its strongest bargaining tool.
With more than 70 hostages still in Gaza—and at least a third feared dead—pressure mounts on both sides. The question remains: Will the ceasefire hold long enough for a broader agreement, or is another escalation inevitable?
