Hamas and Israel were scheduled for Saturday to exchange prisoners’ hostages under their current Gaza ceasefire agreement.
On Friday, Hamas said that four women would release Israeli soldiers. In return, Israel is expected to release about 200 Palestinian prisoners.
The four women were taken hostage more than a year ago during a Hamas -led attack on October 7, 2023, when Israeli officials say about 1,200 people were killed and 250 hostages. In response, Israel launched a severe bombing campaign, killing at least 45,000 people, according to Gaza Department of Health officials.
The 42 -day ceasefire deal, which mediators hope to be the basis for the permanent end of the war in Gaza, came into force on Sunday. Under the agreement, Hamas agreed to release 1,000 Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli prisons and 33 of the remaining hostages in exchange for partial withdrawal of Israeli military from Gaza.
On Friday, Hamas identified four hostages that he would release Kareena Arif, 20; Daniela Gulbawa, 20; Levy, 20; And Larry Albag, 19. All four were abducted from a military base near Gaza where they were serving.
Israel said that the mediators between the two sides had sent a list of the hostages’ names that were released on Saturday without confirming the identity. It is unclear whether all four nominated by Hamas will be released.
