Hamas has shared the names of the three new hostages who would be freed on Saturday in exchange for 183 Palestinian prisoners who Israel currently holds.
They are male civilians Eli Sharabi, Ohad Ben Ami and Or Levy, reported BBC.
Since the ceasefire began on January 19, Hamas has freed 18 hostages so far.
Israel has released 383 prisoners.
During the first stage of the ceasefire, Hamas is expected to release 33 hostages in total in exchange for 1,900 prisoners.
Israel claims eight of the 33 hostages are dead.
During the October 7, 2023 attack, which triggered a war in Gaza, Hamas had captured 251 people as hostages and left 1,200 people dead.
Speaking on the release of hostages, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirmed on X: “The Mossad and the IDF have received the list of the hostages due to be released tomorrow, pursuant to the framework.”
Sharabi was kidnapped from Kibbutz Be’eri when Hamas terrorists rampaged through southern Israel on October 7, 2023, reported The Times of Israel.
According to reports, his wife and daughters were murdered in their home.
Sharabi and his brother Yossi were taken away by Hamas as hostages.
Yossi’s death was confirmed later.
Sharabi’s brother-in-law, Stephen Brisley, from Wales, said his safe return “has always been that one crumb of comfort”.
“Eli coming home alive would be perhaps the greatest memorial to Lianne and the girls and we’re so close to achieving that now,” he told the BBC.
Ohad Ben Ami, 56, was taken hostage along with his wife Raz from Kibbutz Beeri.
Raz was later released.
According to reports, Levy, 34, was kidnapped from the Supernova festival on October 7, 2023.
His wife Einav was killed, and their now three-year-old son Almog has been staying with his grandparents, reported The Times of Israel.
Aid truck
Announcing the development, the UN’s top aid official, Tom Fletcher, said that the trucks contained lifesaving food, medicine, and tents – all desperately needed by Gazans after more than 15 months of constant Israeli bombardment.
The UN emergency relief chief’s comments came as he prepared to join an aid convoy crossing into northern Gaza.
In recent days, he has held “practical discussions” with the Israeli authorities in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem “to keep lifesaving UN aid moving into Gaza at scale”. This includes COGAT – the Israeli body responsible for approving requests to deliver aid into Gaza and the West Bank – and the Israel Foreign Ministry.
