The release of four Israeli hostages—Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag—held captive in Gaza for 477 days, marked the second phase of a complex ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Their return home on Saturday reunited them with their families.
This resolution came at a significant cost: Israel released 121 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences for deadly terrorist acts, along with another 79 serving lengthy terms.
The prisoner release has sparked intense emotional and political debate within Israel. While the hostages’ return is celebrated, the decision to free convicted terrorists has reopened painful wounds for many.
Families of victims of the released prisoners expressed profound distress, struggling to reconcile their grief with the joy of the hostages’ liberation.
Hillel Fuld, whose brother was murdered six years ago by a Palestinian terrorist, described the news as a devastating blow, yet affirmed his support for the deal. He acknowledged the strategic drawbacks but emphasized the paramount importance of the hostages’ return.
Fuld also voiced security concerns, particularly regarding those released prisoners returning to Judea and Samaria. He expressed hope for government preparedness in addressing potential threats.
Orit Mark Etinger, whose father was killed in a 2016 attack, along with her two cousins, who were also victims of terrorist attacks, conveyed her anguish at the release of her father’s murderers. She emphasized the unbearable pain of seeing those responsible for her father’s death potentially walk free, contrasting that with the need to bring the hostages home.
Two of the prisoners released were directly involved in the attack that killed Etinger’s father.
Among the 1,900 prisoners released are individuals responsible for some of Israel’s deadliest attacks. Notable examples include Wael Qassem (35 life sentences for orchestrating suicide bombings that killed 35), Majdi Za’atri (23 life sentences for a 2003 bus bombing that killed 23), and Mardawi Tabat (21 life sentences for murdering 21 and injuring 150 in multiple attacks).
Other released prisoners include Ammar Al-Ziben (32 life sentences for planning multiple suicide bombings, including the 1997 Mahane Yehuda Market bombing), and Ahmad Salah (21 life sentences for two 2004 Jerusalem bus bombings).
Ronen Bar, Director of the Israeli General Security Service, warned that 82% of the prisoners released in the 2011 Gilad Shalit exchange returned to terrorism, while still recommending the current deal.
Zohar Dvir, a former commander of the elite Yamam counterterrorism unit, highlighted the immense resources and risks involved in hostage rescue operations, explaining why such deals are sometimes necessary to ensure the hostages’ survival.
Yair Cherki, an Israeli journalist whose brother was a victim of a terrorist attack, criticized the deal’s diplomatic strategy and expressed concern about the long-term implications for Israeli society.
He argued that the deal reinforces Hamas’s control and left Israel with limited diplomatic leverage, ultimately leading to the acceptance of the deal to bring the hostages home and to begin the process of societal healing.
Even those directly affected, such as Fuld and Etinger, prioritized the hostages’ return, acknowledging the deal’s necessary but painful compromise.
Cherki emphasized that the deal extends beyond individual families, representing a societal commitment to life and solidarity. He expressed hope that, despite its flaws, it could contribute to national healing.