Newsroom
Hamas has announced plans to release the names of four hostages on Friday, who are set to be freed on Saturday as part of the second exchange in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement. The deal involves the release of female hostages, both soldiers and civilians, in exchange for Palestinian security prisoners held by Israel.
The upcoming exchange follows the initial phase of the ceasefire, during which Hamas freed three female hostages earlier this week. For each hostage released, Israel is expected to release 50 Palestinian prisoners, many of whom are serving life sentences for terrorism-related offenses.
Despite the progress, concerns remain about the fate of other hostages. Israel has urged Hamas to provide clarity on the status of 30 hostages still in captivity but expects Hamas may only disclose the number of living captives, rather than names or detailed information.
One civilian hostage, Arbel Yehud, is anticipated to be among those freed in Saturday’s exchange, though her release may be complicated as she is reportedly held by a group other than Hamas.
The hostage negotiations continue to face diplomatic pressure, with Israel also engaging with Russia to secure the release of several captives. Israeli officials and families of hostages have vowed to push for the safe return of all captives, even as political tensions rise over the ceasefire and the broader conflict in Gaza.
