GAZA CITY: Hamas’ military wing the Qassam Brigades has confirmed to release six Israeli captives on Saturday as part of the seventh batch in the ongoing prisoner exchange agreement with Israel.
In a statement on Friday, the Qassam spokesperson Abu Obeida said: “As part of the ‘Al-Aqsa Flood’ prisoner exchange deal, the following Israeli captives will be released tomorrow (Saturday): Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem-Tov, Omer Wenkert, Tal Shoham, Avera Mengistu, and Hisham Al-Sayed.”
The first phase of the ceasefire agreement is divided into three stages, each lasting 42 days, with negotiations needed before moving to the next phase.
Israel to release 602 prisoners
Meanwhile, Israel will free 602 Palestinian prisoners on Saturday as part of an agreement with Hamas, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club advocacy group.
Among those released, 445 are individuals from Gaza who were arrested after the war between Israel and Hamas started on October 7, 2023.
Hamas reaffirms commitment to ceasefire
Hamas further announced that it will thoroughly investigate Israel’s claims regarding the body of Israeli captive Shiri Bibas, which was handed over on Thursday, reaffirming its commitment to the ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
“We have received Israel’s claims through our mediators and will examine them with utmost seriousness before announcing the results clearly,” Hamas said in a statement.
Earlier Hamas had said it won’t release the remaining captives without a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with the full backing of the Trump administration, said he is committed to destroying Hamas’ military and governing capacities and returning all the hostages.
Trump’s proposal to remove some two million Palestinians from Gaza and the US take over control of the Palestinian territory, which has been rejected by Palestinians and Arab countries, has thrown the ceasefire into further doubt.
Israel kills 48,319 Palestinians
Israel’s military offensive killed 48,319 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The offensive destroyed vast areas of Gaza, reducing entire neighbourhoods to fields of rubble and bombed-out buildings. At its height, the Israeli war displaced 90 percent of Gaza’s population. Many have returned to their homes to find nothing left and no way of rebuilding.
In November 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over its actions in the Palestinian territory.
