Hamas to release 4 Israeli women hostages as part of cease-fire agreement
Al-Qassam Brigades hand over 3 female Israeli hostages to Red Cross at al-Saraya as part of 1st phase of cease-fire and prisoner swap deal between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City, Gaza, Jan. 19, 2025. (AA Photo)
Hamas will disclose the names of four Israeli women hostages, who are set to be released the next day as part of a second release under the cease-fire agreement with Israel, a senior official of the resistance group informed Agence-France Presse (AFP) on Friday.
“Today, Hamas will announce the names of four hostages as part of the second prisoner exchange,” stated Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas’s political bureau located in Doha.
“Tomorrow, Saturday, the four women hostages will be released in exchange for a group of Palestinian prisoners, as stipulated in the ceasefire agreement.”
Naim stated that following the exchange, Palestinians displaced by war in southern Gaza will be able to start their return to the northern part of the territory.
“He stated that an Egyptian-Qatari committee will supervise the execution of this segment of the agreement on-site.”
“The displaced individuals will make their way back from the south to the north along Al-Rashid Road, as Israeli forces are anticipated to pull back from that area in line with the agreement.”
The cease-fire agreement was facilitated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States following months of rigorous negotiations.
The truce, marking the second in over 15 months of conflict, commenced on Sunday, resulting in the release of the first three hostages in return for approximately 90 Palestinian prisoners.
Israel kills nearly 47,000 people in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023
The Israeli army has continued a genocidal war on Gaza that has killed nearly 47,000 victims, most of them women and children, since an attack by the Palestine resistance group, Hamas, on Oct. 7, 2023, despite a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants in November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its military actions in Gaza.
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