Hamas says to release four captured Israeli soldiers
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The al-Qassam Brigades say they will be releasing four captured Israeli soldiers on Saturday as part of the prisoner swap deal with the Israeli occupation.
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Fighters from the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, control the crowd while Red Cross vehicles come to collect Israeli captives to be released under a ceasefire agreement, in Gaza City, January 19, 2025 (AP)
The spokesperson for the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, Abu Obeida, announced that the Resistance movement would release four Israeli female captives on Saturday.
The names of the captives, identified as Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Danielle Gilboa, Naama Levy, were revealed by Abu Ubaida. Their release is part of the al-Aqsa Flood deal under the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which has been in effect since January 19, 2025.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed receipt of the list of captives from mediators. The statement indicated that "Israel's response to the list will be provided later."
Under the ceasefire agreement, the first day of the truce saw the release of three Israeli female captives by Palestinian resistance in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
According to the Palestinian Commission for Detainees and ex-Detainees Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners Club, the initial batch of released prisoners included 69 women and 21 children. Among them, 76 were from the West Bank, while 14 were from occupied al-Quds.
Ceasefire Violations
On Monday, a source from the resistance leadership disclosed to Al Mayadeen that "several Israeli breaches of the agreement have occurred, including drone activity and shooting at civilians." The source stressed that "these violations, especially the shooting at civilians, threaten the agreement."
These violations have had deadly consequences, with reports emerging just a day after the ceasefire went into effect. According to the Civil Defense in Gaza, 122 martyrs were brought to hospitals within 24 hours after the ceasefire was announced, including 62 bodies retrieved from beneath the rubble.
The Civil Defense also revealed that, since the aggression began, over 38,000 bodies have been recovered, with around 2,400 martyrs disintegrating without leaving a trace. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health in Gaza has reported 341 injuries within the same 24-hour period, highlighting the fragile state of the truce.
The Resistance source confirmed to Al Mayadeen that "Qatari and Egyptian mediators are actively monitoring the situation and working with Hamas, the Americans, and the Israelis to ensure the agreement's implementation." Despite ongoing violations, hundreds of trucks carrying food and medical supplies have entered Gaza through the Rafah border crossing as part of a "humanitarian protocol" facilitated by Qatar.
