The Palestinian militant group on Friday released the names of the next four hostages it plans to release as part of the ceasefire agreement signed with Israel. Israel should publish its own list.
Hamas communicated this Friday afternoon the names of the four female Israeli hostages who are to be released on Saturday by the Islamist group after 477 days of captivity.
These are women engaged in the Israeli army: Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag.
The hostages should be released in exchange forrelease of 180 Palestinians imprisoned or detained by Israel.
The list of Israeli hostages, however, would not respect the conditions of the ceasefire agreement which stipulates that civilian women must be released as a priority.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nevertheless indicated that he accepted this list.
Hamas evokes “technical complications.”
Arbel Yehud, one of the last female hostages still alive, whose release Israel is demanding, is held by Islamic Jihad and not Hamas, which could explain a possible setback.
The Qatari Prime Minister assured Israel that the latter would be released next week.
The first three hostages were released last weekend, as part of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.
Earlier Friday, relatives of hostages still held by Hamas called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ensure the release of all remaining captives. They also called on US President Donald Trump to continue pushing for their release. Israel estimates that about a third or even half of the more than 90 hostages still in Gaza are dead. Hamas has not provided final figures on the number of captives still alive or the names of those who have died, but is expected to release further information on the remaining 26 hostages who are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
As part of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, a total of 33 hostages are expected to be released gradually in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, as well as additional humanitarian aid entering Gaza.
In the Palestinian enclave, civilians in the central and southern Gaza Strip, hoping to return to the remains of their homes in the badly damaged north, face an agonizing wait.
Israel’s war against Hamas has cost the lives of more than 47,000 Palestiniansaccording to Gaza health authorities. The ministry does not differentiate between combatants and civilians.
The conflict was sparked by Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people.
