Israel, Hamas to exchange names of hostages in swap deal

By Abdel Rauf Arnaut

JERUSALEM (AA) – Israel and Hamas are set to exchange via mediators Wednesday evening the names of hostages included in a swap agreement, according to Israeli media.

Hamas will provide a list of 10 Israeli hostages to be released on Thursday, public broadcaster KAN reported.

Israel in return will provide mediators with the names of Palestinian women and minors to be set free as part of the hostage swap deal, KAN said.

Israel and Hamas announced a humanitarian pause deal early Wednesday after more than six weeks of Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip following a Hamas attack on Oct. 7.

Under the agreement, 50 Israelis held by Hamas will be released in exchange for 150 Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails, Israeli media earlier reported.

The deal, mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the US, also includes a four-day pause in fighting and the entry of 300 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid, including much-needed fuel, into the Gaza Strip.

The agreement also allows for an extension of the pause and the potential release of more women and children held by both sides.

Israel estimates that at least 239 Israelis are being held by Hamas following its cross-border attack early last month.

Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks in the Gaza Strip following the Hamas attack, killing more than 14,100 Palestinians, including over 5,800 children and 3,900 women, according to health authorities in the enclave.

Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, mosques and churches, have also been damaged or destroyed in Israel’s air and ground attacks on the besieged enclave.

The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is around 1,200, according to official figures.