Six hostages to be freed and Gazans to be allowed north – Israel
Hamas will release six hostages this week and Israel will allow Gazans to return to homes in the north from Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says.
The hostages include Arbel Yehud – civilians at the center of a row that has led Israel to delay Gaza’s return to northern Gaza.
Hamas released the four soldiers on Saturday, but not Ms Yehud. Israel accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire deal, under which Israeli civilians were to be freed first in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Since the ceasefire deal came into force, seven hostages and more than 200 prisoners have been released.
Thousands of displaced Palestinians attempting to reach northern Gaza have converged on a military barrier blocking their progress for two days.
On January 19, a ceasefire and hostage and prisoner release deal came into effect. Two exchanges have been completed.
In a third, Hamas will release Ms. Yehud and two other hostages on Friday, followed by three more on Saturday, Netanyahu and Qatar, which has brokered the talks, said.
Israel will begin allowing Palestinians to cross north on Monday, as well as free more Palestinian prisoners later in the week.
Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, Palestinians were allowed to travel north of the Netzerim Corridor, a seven-kilometre (4.3 mi) strip of land controlled by Israel that cuts across northern Gaza, on Saturday. Cuts the.
Images of massive crowds waiting to pass.
Qatari and Egyptian mediators who have facilitated talks between Israel and Hamas were involved in efforts to resolve the row over Ms Yehud. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman announced the breakthrough moments before the Israeli Prime Minister.
Israel had asked mediators for proof from Hamas that Ms Yehud was alive. It appeared to have been delivered to the Egyptians on Saturday evening, the BBC understands.
The January ceasefire deal halted the war, when Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023. About 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken back to Gaza as hostages.
Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry says more than 47,200 Palestinians, the majority civilians, have been killed in the Israeli offensive.
