Mughrabi and Dawoud Abu Alkas JERUSALEM/CAIRO/GAZA (Reuters) -The Palestinian militant movement Hamas released four female Israeli soldier hostages on Saturday in return for 200 Palestinian prisoners,

The hostage exchange is the second since the current ceasefire agreement. It is expected that by the end of the first phase of the deal's completion, 33 Israeli hostages will have been freed in exchange for the release of around 1,900 Palestinian detainees.

Before their release, the hostages, four female soldiers, were led onto a stage in Gaza City, surrounded by masked, uniformed fighters.

Hamas militants have released four female Israeli soldiers they held captive for 15 months for 200 Palestinian prisoners or detainees in Israel.

The hostages were freed in a heavily staged handover, ahead of the expected release of 200 Palestinian prisoners.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas released four Israeli female soldiers on Saturday, who will be exchanged for 200 Palestinian prisoners incarcerated in Israeli jails.

The return of fighters to Gaza streets highlights how Israeli bombardment has failed to achieve Netanyahu’s goal or eradicating Hamas as a political force.

The four soldiers were all stationed at an observation post on the edge of Gaza and abducted by Hamas fighters who overran their base during the attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

In some footage, they were taunted by their Hamas captors. Now, Liri Albag, 19; Karina Ariev, 20; Danielle Gilboa, 20; and Naama Levy, 20, are back in Israel, released by Hamas on Saturday in return for Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas identified four female soldiers abducted from a military base as those who will be freed in the next exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Hamas said that it intends to release Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag on Saturday. All four of the women were serving as Israel Defense Forces soldiers at the time of their kidnapping.