Summary
Four female Israeli hostages are expected to be released on Saturday
Hamas gunmen and crowds have gathered in Palestine Square in Gaza City ahead of the release
All four hostages are Israeli soldiers. This will be the second group of hostages freed by Hamas since a ceasefire was agreed
In exchange as many as 200 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel are set to be freed
Hamas is expected to provide more information about the remaining 26 hostages due to be released in the weeks to come
Israeli soldiers are also scheduled to withdraw from key positions in Gaza, allowing more displaced Palestinians to return northOn a crisp sunny day in the Occupied West Bank, families of Palestinian prisoners expected to be freed today are waiting with nervous anticipation to be reunited with their loved ones.
Around 200 detainees are due to be freed in the coming hours. But the names of those to be released have still not been confirmed.
Last weekend, it was well past midnight before the first batch of prisoners, almost all women – many of whom had never been charged with a crime – emerged from Ofer prison near Ramallah.
Today, some of those to be freed have been convicted of murder in Israeli courts. Around half the prisoners to be released will be allowed to return to their homes in the West Bank.
The remaining half, those convicted of the most serious offences, will be deported via Egypt to countries including Qatar and Turkey.One video from Gaza City showed what looked more like a victory procession, as 17 white pickup trucks rolled thorough the streets with horns blaring.
Packed in each vehicle were masked Hamas fights carrying weapons and flags. Gunfire rang out and children ran alongside the convoy.
Much like the scenes of last weekend, this is a jarring and searing illustration for Israelis that Hamas has not been defeated and remains in control of Gaza.
Hamas hopes the sheer number of fighters on the streets and now in Palestine Square projects their strength.
Destroying the group was the central aim and justification of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s military operation, alongside the mission to free the hostages, he said.
He’s still under big pressure from critics and some in his government to resume the fighting and remove Hamas from Gaza altogether, however difficult that may be.