Palestinian militant groups have provided the names of three hostages they plan to free on Saturday in return for the release of 369 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, raising hopes that the January ceasefire agreement will survive its latest crisis.
A second phase is due to begin on 1 March, in which both sides plan to release all remaining hostages and prisoners, and Israel would complete its military withdrawal from Gaza.
The truce agreement appeared in danger of collapse this week after Hamas announced there would be an indefinite delay to the release of the next three hostages owing to Israel’s alleged violations of the deal.
However, Trump’s shocking proposal the US would claim possession of Gaza, which would be emptied of its 2.2 million Palestinian inhabitants and developed into a “Riviera” resort coastline, has clouded the prospects for the ceasefire’s survival over the coming weeks.
On Thursday, however, the immediate crisis appeared to recede with Hamas confirming three Israelis would be freed and Netanyahu’s office clarifying that it was not demanding the liberation of all the remaining hostages.
