Hamas announced that it will release three more Israeli hostages on Saturday, indicating a potential continuation of the ceasefire in Gaza despite recent tensions.
While Israel has not officially confirmed the resolution of its dispute with Hamas, ongoing negotiations suggest a willingness from both sides to step back from their previous demands that had put the truce at risk.
According to Israeli reports, Hamas stated that they will “carry out the deal at the agreed-upon time.”
Earlier in the week, Hamas had delayed the release of additional hostages, citing alleged breaches of the ceasefire terms by Israel. In response, President Donald Trump demanded the release of all remaining 76 hostages by Saturday noon, a demand that Israel supported, threatening a return to conflict if the hostages were not released.
The escalation followed Trump’s recent declaration that the United States would relocate the entire population of Gaza and take control of the territory. It also came after Hamas released three hostages in a frail state, causing outrage in Israel.
As negotiations for a ceasefire extension continue, discussions are also underway regarding the entry of materials into Gaza, including trailers and heavy equipment. Israel has dismissed Hamas’ claims of material entry as “fake news.”
If the terms of the ceasefire hold, Hamas is expected to release three unidentified men on Saturday, with a total of seventeen hostages set to be released in the first stage of the deal, eight of whom are confirmed to be deceased.
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