The ceasefire and hostage-return deal approved by the Israeli government on Friday is to be rolled out in several phases.
Amid a pause in fighting — the second during the 15-month-long — has agreed to free 33 hostages in the first, six-week phase of the deal.
The hostages, who were among more than 250 captured during the terror October 7, 2023, raids led by Hamas in southern Israel, include women, children, men aged over 50 and sick or wounded people.
Hamas sources were cited as saying three female hostages will be the first to be released on Day 1.
Israeli Prime Minister has set up a special task force to receive the hostages amid fears that many will be suffering from severe medical and/or psychological issues.
The deal also foresees the release of Palestinian prisoners held by in exchange for the hostages.
Israel’s Justice Ministry has issued a list of more than 700 who are to be freed in the deal’s first phase. All people on the list are of a relatively young age or female.
Over 1000 Gazans held since the start of the war are also due to be released, the ministry said, adding that they were not involved in the October 7 attacks.
During the first phase as well, Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza’s densely populated areas and allow those displaced to return back to their areas of residence.
None are to be released before 4:00 pm local time (1400 GMT) on Sunday, the ministry has said.
tj/rmt (AFP, AP, Reuters, dpa)
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