Hamas announced on Friday (January 24) the list of four female hostages who will be released on Saturday as the second round of hostage releases following the Gaza ceasefire and hostage agreement. However, this list is believed to violate the terms of the Gaza hostage agreement, and whether Israel can accept it remains a matter of great concern.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirmed on Friday that they have received the list but stated that it was obtained through a mediator, and Israel will respond to the list later.
According to Hamas’s statement, the four Israeli female soldiers to be released on Saturday are Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag.
Israel has not yet publicly confirmed the names on the list or whether they will accept the list provided by Hamas.
Israeli media reports suggest that the list does not comply with the terms of the Gaza hostage agreement. Under the agreement, Hamas is supposed to release female civilians first, followed by female soldiers, then elderly hostages, and finally critically ill hostages.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz consulted with security officials on Friday evening on how to respond to this violation.
Last Sunday, which was the day the Gaza agreement took effect, Hamas released three Israeli female hostages. In exchange, Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners.
Officials disclosed to Reuters that in the first phase of the six-week ceasefire agreement, Israel agreed with Hamas that for each female soldier released, they would free 50 Palestinian prisoners. This means that the release of the four Israeli female soldiers could lead to approximately 200 Palestinian prisoners being released.
Hamas has agreed to return a total of 33 hostages in the first phase, including survivors and deceased bodies.