Hamas has published the names of four Israeli female soldiers who are set to be exchanged tomorrow for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel as part of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
According to a short statement by Abu Obeida, the spokesperson for the armed wing of Hamas, soldiers Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Danielle Gilboa and Naama Levy are set to be released on Saturday, January 25, 2025.
They will be freed in exchange for 180 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
A list of the Palestinian prisoners to be released is expected to be announced by Israeli authorities soon.
Israel disclosed that it has received a list of four female hostages Hamas is due to free on Saturday in what would be the second round of releases under the ceasefire deal agreed this month.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said that the list was received through mediators and added that Israel’s response would be provided later.
The exchange, expected to begin on Saturday afternoon, follows the release on the ceasefire’s first day last Sunday of three Israeli women and 90 Palestinian prisoners, the first such exchange for more than a year.
The first three hostages, Emily Damari, 28, Romi Gonen, 24, Doron Steinbrecher, 31, were released on Sunday.
The release of the second group of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners is part of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement which is expected to last for five more weeks.
Under the terms, 26 more Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners should be released over that time.
Hamas and its allies still hold 91 people taken from Israel on October 7, 2023.
Fifty-seven of them are assumed by Israel to still be alive.
There are also three additional hostages who were held captive since 2014 who are still in Gaza. In total, 251 people were taken from Israel on October 7, 2023.
Under the terms of the deal, Israeli troops will withdraw from some parts of Gaza and the amount of humanitarian aid flowing into Gaza will be increased.
Hostages Seized At Nahal Oz Military Base
Ariev, Gilboa, Levy and Albag were seized at the Nahal Oz military base which was overrun by Hamas gunmen.
Footage showed them among a group of women being tied up with their hands behind their backs. They were seen pleading for help while being taunted by their captors.
The women were part of a unit which surveilled the Israel-Gaza border.
Three weeks ago Hamas released a video of Albag, 19, calling for the Israeli government to reach a deal.
The ceasefire was concluded after months of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas, led by the US, Qatar and Egypt.
It will be implemented in three stages, with the second stage due to begin six weeks into the truce. About 1,900 Palestinian prisoners will be released during the first stage in exchange for 33 hostages.
Israeli forces will also begin withdrawing from positions in Gaza and hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians will be able to return to areas they had fled or been forced from.
The ceasefire is meant to lead to a permanent end to the war in Gaza.
Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 47,283 Palestinians and wounded 111,472 since October 7, 2023.
At least 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attacks that day and more than 200 taken captive.
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