Hamas will release more Israeli hostages this week, officials said Monday, including Agam Berger, who was not released along with four of her colleagues on Saturday.
The return of fighters to Gaza streets highlights how Israeli bombardment has failed to achieve Netanyahu’s goal or eradicating Hamas as a political force.
Hamas released four Israeli hostages in Gaza early Saturday in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners to be released later in the day. It was the second release to occur as part of the ceasefire agreement that began last weekend. Israel followed with the release of 200 Palestinian prisoners.
The fragility of the truce between Israel and Hamas was laid bare on Saturday, after Israel accused Hamas of withholding a hostage, prompting a halt in the movement of Gazan civilians back to their homes in the north.
Two hundred Palestinian prisoners have also been released today by Israel in the latest stage of a ceasefire deal.
Hamas said that it intends to release Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag on Saturday. All four of the women were serving as Israel Defense Forces soldiers at the time of their kidnapping.
Latest news and live updates on the Gaza ceasefire deal as four female hostages are set to be released. The hostages are all Israeli soldiers.
Before their release, the hostages, four female soldiers, were led onto a stage in Gaza City, surrounded by masked, uniformed fighters.
Thousands of Palestinians gathered in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah to celebrate the arrival of buses carrying the prisoners.
The hostages and 200 prisoners were released in the second swap of the Gaza cease-fire deal, which went into effect this month.
Hamas has agreed to release hostage Arbel Yehud from Gaza on Thursday, easing the first major crisis of the Middle East ceasefire deal.