On January 25, 2025, Hamas released four female Israeli soldiers who had been held captive since October 2023. In return, Israel freed 200 Palestinian prisoners, some of whom were serving life sentences.
The exchange was part of a ceasefire deal mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. The truce aims to facilitate further hostage releases and prisoner swaps. However, tensions remain high due to delays in releasing other hostages and ongoing security challenges in northern Gaza.