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Reuters

A Hamas official said on Monday the Palestinian militant group would next release hostages on Sunday, a day later than expected under a complex ceasefire accord reached this month with Israel.
Nahed al-Fakhouri, head of the Hamas prisoners’ media office, said in a statement the names of hostages it would release would be provided on Saturday. Israel would similarly disclose the names of prisoners to be released under the deal, he said.
“Based on these two lists, the actual implementation will be carried out on Sunday,” al-Fakhouri said.
Hamas had been expected to release four hostages on Saturday, coinciding with a release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
A senior Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said as far as Israel was concerned, the deadline for the next hostages to be released by Hamas was Saturday.
“This is the agreement and must be adhered to,” the official told Reuters.
Earlier this month, Israel and Hamas agreed to a three-phase ceasefire that could bring an end to the 15-month war in Gaza. The ceasefire came into effect on Sunday with Hamas releasing three Israeli hostages. Israel also released Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
The ceasefire agreement outlines a six-week initial ceasefire phase and includes the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and release of hostages taken by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.


The relatives of the three Israeli hostages released by Hamas called on Monday for all those remaining in the territory to be freed.
Speaking at a press conference at the Sheba hospital where the three women are being treated, they gave no details on the conditions in which their relatives had been held for 471 days or on their health.
Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher were released as part of the first round of exchanges that also saw around 90 Palestinian prisoners freed from Israeli jails.
Meirav Leshem Gonen, the mother of Romi Gonen, said: “We got our Romi back, but all families deserve the same outcome, both the living and the dead. Our hearts go out to the other families.”
“We are a people who desire peace but are ready for war when needed,” she added.
Yamit Ashkenazi, meanwhile, passed on a message from her sister Doron Steinbrecher.
“Everyone needs to return, until the last hostage comes home. Just as I was fortunate to return to my family, so must everyone else.”

Mandy Damari, the mother of British-Israeli Emily Damari, said her daughter was “in high spirits”.
She called for all the hostages to be released and for humanitarian aid that was going into Gaza to also go to the remaining captives.
Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, 91 remain in Gaza, including 34 the military has said are dead.
A further two hostages who are presumed alive have been held in Gaza since 2014 and 2015 respectively, as has the body of a soldier killed in the 2014 Gaza war. The three are also expected to be released as part of the deal.
Before the press conference, the Israeli military released new footage of the moment the three freed hostages were reunited with their mothers at an Israeli military base.
In the footage, the three women are seen embracing their mothers tightly as they meet for the first time after their release.
Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse


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Israel-Gaza war

Supporters and relatives of Israeli hostages held captive in Gaza demonstrate in Tel Aviv on Monday, calling for an immediate end of the war and return of all the hostages. Photo: AFP

Former Israeli hostage Emily Damari, right, with her mother Mandy at an undisclosed location in Israel on Sunday. Photo: Israeli Army / AFP / Handout

Ceasefire begins, pausing devastating Israel-Gaza war

Children were among those cheering in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday, the day a long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas was implemented. Photo: AFP

Displaced Palestinians cheer as they return to the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday. Photo: via AFP

Protesters stand with portraits of Israeli hostages during a demonstration last year by families of those taken captive during the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. Photo: AFP

The war in Gaza has devastated the enclave and killed tens of thousands of people. Photo: Reuters

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, demanded a hostage list from Hamas before the ceasefire began. Photo: dpa

Families and supporters of Israeli hostages kidnapped during the October 2023 attack by Hamas attend a Tel Aviv demonstration in support of the ceasefire deal on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

Gaza ceasefire: late night tears and hugs for released Palestinian prisoners

Scenes in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, as freed Palestinians arrive by bus. Photo: Reuters

Palestinian prisoners set free by Israel celebrate upon their arrival in the occupied West Bank town of Beitunia. Photo: AFP

Palestinian prisoner Baraah Fuqaha (right) being welcomed by relatives. Photo: AFP

The uncle of 17-year-old Palestinian prisoner Qassem Jaafra kisses his forehead. Photo: AFP

Palestinians walk past the rubble of houses and buildings in Jabilia in the northern Gaza Strip. Photo: Reuters

Israelis Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher before they were handed over to the Red Cross on Sunday. Photo: Hamas Media Office via AFP 

A man sits on a lounge chair atop a heavily-damaged building in Jabilia in the northern Gaza Strip. Photo: AFP

Israelis in Tel Aviv celebrate the release of the three hostages. Photo: AP

Freed Palestinian prisoners inside a bus in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Photo: Reuters

Trucks loaded with aid wait to cross into Gaza from the Egyptian side of the Rafah border on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Hamas fighters in Gaza escort a Red Cross vehicle to collect the Israeli hostages on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Who are the 3 Israelis released on the first day of the Gaza ceasefire?

Romi Gonen steps out of a van next to her mother Merav, left, before boarding a helicopter. Photo: AP

Romi Gonen and family members. Photo: GPO via AFP

Emily Damari with her mother Amanda. Photo: Israeli Army via AFP

Doron Steinbracher with her mother Simone. Photo: Israeli Army via AFP

News

World

Middle East

A senior Israeli official said as far as Israel was concerned, the deadline for the next hostages to be released by Hamas was Saturday


A senior Israeli official said as far as Israel was concerned, the deadline for the next hostages to be released by Hamas was Saturday.


War and conflict

Israel

Diplomacy