Israel-Gaza war: Hamas to free new wave of hostages as truce silences the guns
- More than a dozen hostages, including children, are due to be released on Saturday, day two of the temporary truce, in exchange for 42 Palestinian prisoners
- A Qatari delegation has arrived in Israel to coordinate with parties on the ground and ‘ensure the deal continues to move smoothly’, said a diplomat who’d been briefed
Hamas fighters are set to release a new wave of hostages on Saturday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, officials said, offering hope to anguished families after seven weeks of war that have killed thousands of people.
While uncertainty remained around the details of the exchange, there was optimism, too, amid the scenes of joyous families reuniting on both sides.
On Saturday, Hamas provided mediators Egypt and Qatar with a list of 14 hostages to be released, and it has been passed to Israel, according to an Egyptian official speaking on condition of anonymity as he was not permitted to talk about details of the ongoing negotiations.
A second Egyptian official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the details. The head of Egypt’s government press office and the state-run Qahera news outlet said 13 hostages would be exchanged for 39 prisoners.
Under the truce agreement, Hamas will release one Israeli hostage for every three prisoners freed. Israel’s Prison Service said earlier on Saturday it was preparing 42 prisoners for release.