During the war of Independence, Egypt captured 156 Israelis, Jordan 673, Syria 48, and Lebanon 8. Israel for its part held more than 6000 Arab POWs. During the period of captivity letters were exchanged between the POWs and their families via the International Red Cross delegations, 917 from & 1084 to Transjordan, 473 from & 461 to Egypt, 44 from & 197 to Syria, and 8 from & 9 to Lebanon. Israel made separate agreements for the exchange of prisoners with each and every one of the countries which held Israeli prisoners. On 27 February 1949, the five Israeli prisoners held in the "Faluja Pocket" were returned in exchange for the freeing of the Egyptian brigade trapped in the "Pocket". The remaining POW exchanges with Egypt took place between 7–9 March 1949. Israeli women taken prisoner when Gush Ezion fell to the Jordanians were returned in June and November, 1948. POW exchanges with Jordan began on 2 February 1949 and were completed on 3 March 1949. All prisoners of war were exchanged between Israel and Lebanon on 24 March 1949. On 4 April 1949, six Israeli POWs returned from Syria; between 2–8 May others were returned. On 21 July 1949 the last exchange was made with Syria.