The Palestinian death toll in Gaza has exceeded 55,000, with over 127,000 injured, amid ongoing Israeli military operations in the 20-month-long Israel-Hamas war
The three male civilians are to be freed Saturday in exchange for dozens of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel as part of a ceasefire in Gaza that has paused the war in the Gaza Strip
Two hostages arrived in Israel after Hamas handed them over to the Red Cross on Saturday, while Palestinian authorities say Israel has agreed to release dozens of prisoners in the fourth round of exchanges during the Gaza ceasefire deal
The list includes Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, and Naama Levy, army observers aged 19-20 who were abducted by Hamas from the Israeli army's surveillance base at Nahal Oz on October 7, 2023, near the Gaza Strip border
Hamas blamed the delay in handing over the names on “technical field reasons.” It said in a statement that it is committed to the ceasefire deal announced last week
During the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire, extending for 42 days, Hamas will release 33 Israeli detainees in exchange for Israel releasing more than 1,890 Palestinian prisoners