Hamas confirms release of 48 hostages to begin Monday under ceasefire deal

Hamas announced that the process for the release of the 48 hostages held in Gaza will begin on Monday morning, in accordance with the provisions of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement mediated by the United States.

In statements to the Agence France-Presse (AFP), a senior member of the organisation, Osama Hamdan, stated that “based on the agreement signed, the exchange of prisoners is expected to begin on Monday morning, as agreed, and there is no new development on this issue.”

According to the agreement, following the release of the hostages, Israel is expected to proceed with the release of approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, as part of the same phase of the deal. The process, as has been clarified, will take place away from cameras, for reasons of security and discretion.

It is estimated that of the 48 hostages, only 20 are alive, a fact that casts a heavy shadow over the agreement and intensifies concerns about the fate of the others.