Hamas has published the names of four Israeli women being held captive in Gaza who it plans to release this weekend as part of the continuing ceasefire agreement between the armed group and Israel.
The group are all female IDF observation troops who were abducted by Hamas from their base in Nahal Oz during the group’s surprise attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023 when their base was overrun.
The four women , who have been held by Hamas in Gaza for 15 months, were named as Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag.
Not on the list, however, was Arbel Yehoud the last female civilian hostage being held in Gaza, who Israeli officials briefed earlier this week that they expected to be released this weekend.
While the office of the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, confirmed Hamas had supplied the names of those to be released to mediators, there was no immediate confirmation of the names.
According to the deal, Israel will next publish a list of which Palestinians being held in Israeli jails it will release this weekend. The first exchange took place Sunday with the release of three Israeli civilian hostages and 90 Palestinian prisoners.
Dozens of Israelis and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are set to be freed, while more humanitarian aid flows into Gaza.
