A senior Hamas leader announced Thursday that the group will provide Israel with the names of four hostages to be released on Saturday as part of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement.
Zaher Jabarin, a Hamas leader based in Istanbul, told Qatari outlet Al-Araby that the names will be shared with mediators on Friday. The exchange is expected to include four women, both soldiers and civilians.
Hamas was also expected to update Israel on the status of 30 remaining hostages due to be freed in the deal’s first phase. However, Israeli officials anticipate Hamas may only disclose the number of living hostages without specific details.
Concerns remain over the release of civilian hostage Arbel Yehud, who is reportedly held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, not Hamas, potentially complicating her inclusion in the exchange.
The deal stipulates that for every female hostage released, Israel will free 50 Palestinian prisoners, including 30 convicted terrorists serving life sentences.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reassured families of released hostages that efforts to free all captives would continue, emphasizing, “We won’t give up on the others.”
Three hostages—Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher—were freed earlier this week, marking the start of the ceasefire agreement.
