The terrorist group Hamas has announced that on Saturday, the second batch of the hostages held in Gaza will be released. It comes after the group’s leader said that their release would not occur today as scheduled.
More than 90 hostages are to be released in the coming weeks as part of a complex ceasefire deal with Israel aimed at ending the 15-month conflict in Gaza. According to Hamas, the hostages’ release will coincide with the exchange of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Earlier, Nahed Al-Fakhouri, Hamas’ prisoners’ media office head, had hinted that the release would take place on Sunday. However, a senior Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the next release is scheduled for Saturday.
The ceasefire deal that was put in place early last month consists of a three-stage process. The first stage runs for six weeks and encompasses a gradual Israeli forces pullout from Gaza and a matching release of hostages and prisoners on the other side. Since the start of the truce, Hamas has freed three Israeli hostages and Israel has freed several Palestinian detainees.
