So far, 19 Israeli hostages have been returned in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
Another 14 hostages, six of them believed to be alive, are slated for return in the first phase. Israel is trying to secure the release of the six living hostages on Saturday. Another four bodies of deceased hostages are expected to be handed over on Thursday.
The hostages were taken in the Hamas-led cross-border attack on Oct 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel’s retaliatory assault on Gaza has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials, laid waste to much of the enclave, and displaced hundreds of thousands.
An Israeli official said Israel will also start allowing the entry of mobile homes for those Gazans forced to shelter from the winter weather among the ruins left by the 15 months of Israeli bombardments.
Hamas has accused Israel of delaying the delivery and had threatened to postpone the release of hostages until the issue was resolved.
The fragile ceasefire deal has also been overshadowed by US President Donald Trump’s call for Palestinians to be moved out and for Gaza to be taken over as a waterfront development under US control.
The plan has been rejected by Palestinian groups, Arab states and Washington’s Western allies who say it is tantamount to ethnic cleansing. Israeli leaders have argued that Gazans who want to leave the devastated enclave should be allowed to do so.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Monday he will set up a new unit in his ministry dedicated to facilitating the exit of Gaza residents who want to move to a third country, after reviewing an initial plan for it.
