Hamas says it will release more hostages from Gaza on Saturday, after an official with the Palestinian militant group said they would be released a day later than expected.
Hamas is set to release the more than 90 hostages over the coming weeks as part of a complex ceasefire deal reached with Israel this month that could end the 15-month war in Gaza.
Meanwhile, one of the Israeli hostages freed on Sunday - the first day of the Gaza ceasefire - says she has “returned to life”.
Emily Damari, 28, along with Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher, was freed on Sunday after spending 471 days in captivity. Officials at a hospital that received them said their condition was stable.
In an Instagram story, which was shared by Israeli media, Damari thanked her family and the large protest movement that coalesced to advocate for the release of the hostages.
“Thank you thank you thank you I’m the happiest in the world,” she said.
Damari, a dual Israeli-British citizen, returned from captivity with a bandage on one hand and authorities said she had lost two fingers during Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023.
As she arrived to a hospital on Sunday she waved at a crowd that had gathered and footage later showed her joyfully reuniting with her family.
Her mother, Mandy Damari, said in a statement on Monday that Damari was “doing much better than any of us could ever have anticipated”.
After the three Israeli hostages left Hamas captivity and returned to Israel, dozens of Palestinian prisoners walked free from Israeli jail, leaving both Israelis and Palestinians torn between celebration and trepidation as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold.
Hamas said in a statement on Monday that the next group of hostages would next be released on Saturday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and detainees who are held by Israel.
Earlier, Nahed Al-Fakhouri, head of the Hamas prisoners' media office, had said the hostages would be released on Sunday. Hamas had been expected to release four Israeli hostages on Saturday, seven days after the ceasefire came into effect.
A senior Israeli official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, reacted to Al-Fakhouri's statement by telling Reuters the deadline for the hostages to be released was Saturday.
This month, Israel and Hamas agreed to a three-phase ceasefire that could bring an end to the 15-month war in Gaza. The ceasefire came into effect on Sunday with Hamas releasing three Israeli hostages. Israel also released Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
The ceasefire accord outlines a six-week initial ceasefire phase and includes the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and release of hostages taken by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
with AP
