Israel accused Hamas of failing to honor hostage release commitments
The Palestinian Hamas movement has failed to fulfill its obligations to release Israeli civilian women as part of the ceasefire agreement. Daniel Hagari, head of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesperson's Office, said on Saturday, January 25.
"We are determined to return Arbel Yehud, an Israeli citizen kidnapped from Nir Oz, as well as Shiri Bibas and her two children, Kfir and Ariel, whose well-being we are extremely concerned about," he said.
The spokesman recalled that 90 Israeli citizens, including women, children and the elderly, remain hostage to Hamas.
At the same time, Hagari welcomed the return of four Israeli female soldiers from captivity and thanked all the international mediators involved in establishing the agreement.
"IDF troops will continue to deploy and operate and do everything to protect the citizens of Israel. Our mission will not be complete until all the hostages return home," said the head of the Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson's Office.
Earlier in the day, the IDF said that female soldiers handed over by Hamas to the Red Cross had arrived in Israel. They will first meet with their parents.
The four Israeli soldiers - Karina Ariov, Daniela Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albagh - were kidnapped by Hamas during an attack on Israeli territory on October 7, 2023. The girls were at an observation post near the border with the Gaza Strip. They were released in exchange for a group of Palestinian prisoners as part of a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip that was announced on January 15.
The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip into Israel. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes.
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