Truce between Israel and Hamas takes effect
2 minutes ago
© AFP
Hamas releases names of three Israeli captives to be freed
Hamas’s armed wing has released the names of three Israeli female captives expected to be returned to their families today as part of a agreement mediated by Qatar.
The captives are Emily Damari, 28, Romi Gonen, 24, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31.
Abu Obeida, spokesman for Hamas’s armed wing – the Qassam Brigades, said, “As part of the prisoner exchange deal we decided to release today: Romi Gonen, 24, Emily Damari, 28, and Doron Shtanbar Khair, 31.”
The Israeli prime minister’s office has confirmed that Israel received the list with the names of the captives to be released today as part of the pause of hostilities agreement.
Channel 12, Israel’s principal mainstream news outlet, reports that the names of the captives set to be released on the first day of the agreement have been received by Israeli authorities. Additionally, an Israeli official told Reuters that the list of captives to be freed has been communicated.
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said the ceasefire would not begin until Hamas released the names of the captives. The Palestinian group had blamed “technical” reasons for the delay, including Israel’s continued bombing of Gaza.
The three women are set to be handed over to the Red Cross for safe transfer to Israel in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
The cessation of hostilities, originally scheduled to begin at 6:30 AM GMT, was delayed until Israel received confirmation of the captives’ names. Israel’s official state account on X shared an image of the 33 captives who are expected to be freed during the initial phase of the agreement.
The deal, approved after extensive mediation, outlines a staged exchange of prisoners. During the first six weeks, over 30 Israeli captives are to be released by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
The process will begin with three captives being freed on Sunday, followed by four on the seventh day, and subsequent releases at weekly intervals.
Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office has announced the truce with Hamas in Gaza will start at 11:15am local time (09:15 GMT) after an hours-long delay.
The total number of Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks since the planned start of the pause in hostilities has now risen to 10, the spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defence has said.
Six people were killed in Gaza City, three in northern Gaza and one in Rafah, with more than 25 injured, a statement said.
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