Israel reviews list of hostages expected to be released by Hamas this Saturday

Israel has received the list of hostages expected to be released today by the Palestinian militia Hamas as part of the agreement reached to free civilians held by both sides. Israeli security officials are reviewing the list, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.

Yesterday, Islamist militias and Israeli authorities began exchanging the first hostages and releasing prisoners, as agreed for the first day of the truce. Hamas freed a group of 24 hostages, while Israel freed 39 Palestinian women and children. In total, the agreement provides for, over four days – until Monday – an exchange of 50 Israeli hostages in the hands of Palestinian militias for 150 imprisoned Palestinian women and children.

To make the exchange possible, the two parties also agreed on a ceasefire, the first since the start of hostilities on October 7, and assured that attacks would resume as soon as the truce ended. However, United States President Joe Biden expressed hope that the truce could be extended.

The freed hostages, including Israeli women and children and Thai farm workers, were flown from Gaza and handed over to Egyptian authorities at the Rafah border crossing, along with eight members of the International Committee of the Red Cross in a convoy of four cars, according to the organization. They were then taken to Israel to undergo medical examinations and reunite with their families. (Reuters)