HAMAS RELEASES NAMES OF 4 CAPTIVES TO BE RELEASED; NETANYAHU NOT SATISFIED

Fri 24 January 2025:

Hamas today released the names of four Israeli captives it is due to release tomorrow under the terms of the ceasefire deal.

Al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson, Abu Obeidah, said Karina Ariev, Liri Albag, Naama Levy and Guy Gilboa-Dalal would be returned to Israel.

The Yedioth Ahronoth daily said the three women and one male captives are expected to be handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Saturday afternoon, after which they will be transferred to Israeli occupation forces.

Israel is also expected to receive the full list of both live and deceased captives tomorrow.

“According to Israeli estimates, at least 25 of the 33 hostages are still alive,” the daily added.

Israel is set to release a second batch of Palestinian prisoners on Saturday under the agreement.

The first six-week phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement took effect on 19 January, suspending the Israeli war on the Palestinian enclave.

The three-phase ceasefire agreement includes a prisoner exchange and sustained calm, aiming for a permanent truce and the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from Gaza.

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Netanyahu not satisfied with Hamas’ offer to release female soldier

Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut reporting from Jordan

There are reports within Israeli media that Netanyahu is not exactly satisfied with the captives list released by Hamas, according to which four female soldiers are to be released.

Israeli officials have spoken saying that the release of female military captives is a “violation of the terms of the deal”.

Israel wanted all civilians to be released before moving on to female members of the Israeli army. That’s because the equation for how many Palestinian prisoners are released in return changes based on the type of captive.

The prime minister is now meeting with the top military brass, which includes the defence minister and other security and military chiefs, to respond to this.

The deal was essentially set in stone for phase one. But still, there are a lot of dynamic elements to it.

If Netanyahu refuses to move forward, the families of the captives are already on the streets protesting and asking that the government goes through with all parts of the deal. They say this is the only way to ensure that all captives are released.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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