Media have learned of Hamas plans to release three more hostages

The Palestinian movement Hamas will release three hostages next week: an American and two women. This was reported by The Jerusalem Post on January 26.

According to the newspaper, Hamas will release American Keith Siegel, civilian Arbel Yehud and IDF soldier Agam Berger.

It is noted that the wife of 65-year-old Siegel was also taken hostage, she was released in November 2023.

Contributing to the freeze: how the truce between Israel and Hamas will work and how long it will last

On the first day of the deal, the Palestinian movement freed three hostages

On January 25, Hamas handed over to the Red Cross four more Israeli hostages. As specified, the girls were met by Israeli army forces in the Gaza Strip. The four Israeli soldiers - Karina Ariov, Daniela Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albagh - were kidnapped by Hamas during an attack on Israeli territory on October 7, 2023.

On the same day, Israel accused Hamas of failing to honor commitments to release the hostages. Daniel Hagari, head of the Israel Defense Forces press office, said the Palestinian movement had failed to fulfill its obligations to release Israeli civilian women as part of the ceasefire agreement.

Theceasefire in the Gaza Strip began on January 19 as agreed upon by both sides and mediators. The Israeli government approved the agreement with Hamas on Jan. 17 following a six-hour meeting. At the same time, the Palestinian movement handed over three Israeli hostages to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a massive rocket attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes.