Hostage release

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Michael D. Carroll

By Michael D. Carroll

Breaking News Editor

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The Iran-backed Hamas militant group announced on Friday the names of four hostages it claims will be released on Saturday as part of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.

What's The Context

Israel has yet to confirm the identities of the hostages, however a Hamas spokesman has said that hostages Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, Liri Albag are set to return to Israel on Saturday.

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Hostage release

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What To Know

The release, which has been confirmed as scheduled for Saturday, is set to take place in exchange for the freedom of dozens of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons or detention facilities. The logistics of this exchange of detainees for hostages has not been released, however it is possible the handover will be carried out in a similar way to the release of the first three hostages since the beginning of the current ceasefire deal, Romi Gonen, 24, Emily Damari, 28, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, last Sunday. This saw the Red Cross bus hostages and detainees separately into Israel and Gaza respectively.

How Many Hostages Were Already Released?

Before the current ceasefire agreement, at least 117 hostages had been released, primarily through prisoner exchanges with Israel. Israeli authorities estimate that at least 98 hostages remain in Hamas captivity, though this number may include the remains of dozens who were killed or died during the conflict.

Among those believed to be alive in Gaza are three American hostages—Sagui Dekel-Chen, Edan Alexander, and Keith Siegel. Additionally, the remains of four U.S. citizens are also thought to be held in the territory.

It is expected that by the end of the first phase of the current deal's completion, 33 Israeli hostages will have been freed in exchange for the release of around 1,900 Palestinian detainees.

Who Are the Hostages Set To Be Released?

The full list of hostages either already released or set to be released in the deal's first six week phase are:

How Did the Current Conflict in Gaza Start?

The conflict was triggered by Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which claimed the lives of approximately 1,200 people. Israel's recent war against Hamas in Gaza has resulted in more than 47,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza health authorities. The figures provided by the ministry do not differentiate between combatants and civilians, although Israel claims to have killed some 17,000 Hamas militants without providing evidence.

Hostages Release

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What People Are Saying

Hamas' militant wing Al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson Abu Obaida said on Friday via a Telegram post translated from Arabic that the group "decided to release female hostages Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Neama Levy, and Liri Albag on January 25."

Israel's Prime Minister's Office said in its statement on Friday "The State of Israel is committed to achieving all of the objectives of the war including the return of all of our hostages, the living and the deceased."

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said "We are fully committed to fulfill our own commitments and we are expecting that others to fulfill their own commitments."

What Happens Next

Earlier on Friday, relatives of the hostages still held by militants in Gaza urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure the release of all remaining captives. They also called on U.S. President Donald Trump to maintain pressure on Hamas to facilitate their freedom.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press

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