Three Israeli male hostages are expected to be released on Saturday in what will be the fifth round of releases since the Gaza hostage-ceasefire deal began, seventy-nine hostages remain in Hamas captivity
The list of hostages is expected to be delivered by Hamas to Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani on Friday before being transferred to Mossad Director David Barnea.
In previous rounds, hostages were released on Saturday morning. However, officials now fear that recent statements by US President Donald Trump – regarding destroying Hamas and relocating Gazans to other countries – might provide Hamas with an excuse to delay or disrupt the process.
“Trump’s statements have an influence on the current ceasefire and the hostage deal,” an official told The Jerusalem Post, “but I think phase one will absorb the noise that goes through.”