Hamas is set to release six additional hostages on Saturday, along with the remains of four deceased captives on Thursday, as confirmed by both Hamas and Israel.
According to Israeli officials, another four deceased hostages are expected to be returned next week under the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
Last week, Hamas had threatened to stop hostage releases over the weekend, accusing Israel of failing to uphold its commitments under the truce.
The group alleged that Israel was delaying the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza, targeting them with gunfire, and obstructing humanitarian aid deliveries. As a result, Hamas initially announced that the hostage-prisoner exchange would be postponed.
However, Hamas later stated that the exchange would proceed as planned and released three captives on Saturday. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum identified them as US citizen Sagui Dekel Chen, along with Iair Horn and Sasha Troufanov.
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In return for Hamas releasing three additional Israeli hostages, Israel freed 369 Palestinian detainees on Saturday, most of whom had been arrested in Gaza following the terror attack on 7th October, 2023.
President Donald Trump had issued a deadline last week, warning Hamas to release all remaining hostages by Saturday or else he would leave it to Israel to determine whether to break the ceasefire and resume military action.
(BBC)
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