Military wing of Hamas, the Al-Qassam Brigades, announced Friday the names of three captives it would release as part of the sixth exchange with Israel under the Gaza ceasefire agreement. The announcement follows Hamas’s declaration on Thursday that it would adhere to the agreed-upon timeline for the agreement, after reaching an understanding with Israel, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, regarding the entry of aid.
Abu Obaida, spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades, stated that the three hostages to be released are: Alexander ‘Sasha’ Troufanov, who holds both Israeli and Russian citizenship; Sagi Dekel Chen, an American-Israeli citizen; and Iair Horn.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed receipt of the list, stating it was “acceptable” and that the families of the hostages had consented to the release of their names.
Meanwhile, Hamas’s media office for prisoners said Israel is expected to release 369 prisoners Saturday.
The developments follow Hamas’s announcement on Monday that it was postponing the scheduled release of a group of Israeli captives, initially set for Saturday, until further notice, citing “Israel’s non-compliance with the terms of the Gaza agreement.” However, on Thursday, the group announced its intention to proceed with the agreement, including the exchange of prisoners according to the specified timetable, after talks in Cairo.
In a statement, Hamas said its delegation, headed by Khalil Al-Hayya, held discussions with mediators in Cairo to examine the progress of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement, particularly following what it described as repeated Israeli violations.
Hamas: Committed to the Agreement… We Want Israeli Commitment
Hamas said that it had informed mediators that any procrastination by the “occupation” was unacceptable, referring to obstacles hindering the implementation of the humanitarian protocol of the agreement and the entry of caravans and humanitarian aid.
They that the movement “affirmed its commitment to its obligations according to the timelines in the agreement, as well as the need to immediately begin negotiations on the second phase in implementation of the ceasefire agreement.”
He said that the role of the mediators is to “remove obstacles to the agreement,” adding that the movement is committed to implementing the ceasefire agreement and wants the “occupation” to fulfil its obligations without diminishing them.
Hamas official Taher Al-Nunu held the “occupation” responsible for any delay in negotiations for the second phase. He pointed out that five committees from Egypt, Qatar, the United States, and Israel, as well as the movement, are currently in Cairo to monitor the implementation of the agreement.
Dispute Over Implementation
Hamas officials have expressed dissatisfaction with what they described as “Israel’s procrastination” in implementing the humanitarian protocol of the agreement.
The first phase of the agreement stipulates that Israel allow the entry of 600 trucks of aid per day, 200,000 tents, and 60,000 caravans, and the travel of 300 Palestinians per day, half of whom are patients and injured individuals. However, Hamas has accused the Israeli side of not adhering to these provisions.
Three Israeli officials told The New York Times, and two sources from the mediating countries confirmed that Hamas’s accusations against Israel were “accurate.”
The dispute over heavy equipment has become a focal point in recent days, with Hamas insisting on the necessity of allowing the entry of bulldozers, cranes, and equipment for searching under the rubble, as part of the humanitarian obligations of the agreement.
In contrast, right-wing factions in Israel strongly oppose this, arguing that this equipment may hinder efforts to recover the bodies of Israeli hostages.
Israeli media quoted security sources as saying that the method of burial in Gaza poses a risk, as Palestinians are buried at a depth of one to 1.5 metres, while Israelis are buried at a depth of only half a metre. They pointed out that the operation of heavy equipment could cause the displacement of Israeli bodies, which may complicate their recovery.
Despite the statement issued by Hamas on Thursday, Israel has categorically denied any agreement allowing the entry of “caravans” or heavy equipment into Gaza. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement denying reports of an understanding to continue implementing the first phase of the agreement.
The statement read: “There is no agreement to bring caravans or heavy equipment into Gaza. There is no coordination in this regard, and goods are not being transported through the Rafah crossing under the terms of the ceasefire.”
