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Four weeks of exchanges: 18 hostages freed, 583 prisoners released
The four hostage and prisoner exchanges so far have seen 18 hostages freed by Hamas, with 583 Palestinian detainees released from Israeli custody, as agreed by phase one of ceasefire deal.
Israel is expected to released a further 183 prisoners today as part of an exchange that will see three male Israel civilians set free by Hamas.
Hamas fighters put on a show of force ahead of hostage exchange
Reporting from Deir al-Balah
Hamas fighters gather in Gaza’s central city of Deir al-Balah ahead of the release of three Israeli hostages.
Hamas prepare stage for hostage release
Hamas fighters preparing a stage for the release of three male civilian hostages in Deir al-Balah central Gaza.
As with previous releases, Hamas have set up Palestinian flags among Hamas flags around a stage upon which other hostages have stood before they are transferred to the Red Cross, with cameras and a sound system in place playing music.
Eli Sharabi, Or Levy, and Ohad Ben Ami—in Deir al-Balah, are set to be released by the militant group this morning.
Israeli forces destroyed contents of homes connected to prisoners to be released, Hamas says
Hamas’ prisoners’ media office claimed this morning that Israeli forces raided the homes of family of some of the Palestinian prisoners set to be released today.
The office said the actions by Israeli forces took place in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
“During the raids, the occupation forces destroyed the contents of the homes,” the Hamas office said in a statement.
NBC News has not independently confirmed the details from the office.
Three Israeli hostages to be released today, Hamas says
Three Israeli hostages will be freed today, a spokesperson for Hamas’ military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, said yesterday.
Abu Obeida said on Telegram that Eli Sharabi, 52, Or Levy, 34, and Ohad Ben Ami, 56, would be released in exchanged for Palestinian prisoners.
Ben Ami and Sharabi were taken from Kibbutz Be’eri, a community near the Gaza border that was devastated during the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attacks on Israel.
Levy was taken captive on the same day at the Nova music festival in Israel’s south.
Palestinian children transported out of Gaza for urgent medical treatment
For the first time in around nine months, children in need of urgent medical care were allowed to evacuate Gaza earlier this week at the enclave’s southern Rafah border crossing with Egypt.
Inside Gaza, Dr. Marwan Al Sultan told NBC News that people were in “need of a medical service.”
