Four Israeli women to be released Saturday under ceasefire agreement, says Hamas official

On Tuesday, January 21, 2025, a Hamas official, Taher al-Nunu, announced that four Israeli women hostages would be freed on Saturday as part of a ceasefire deal. In return, a group of Palestinian prisoners will be released.

This will be the second such release under the truce agreement aimed at easing the tensions in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

According to Nunu, the swap will involve “four Israeli female detainees in return for Palestinian prisoners,” following a similar exchange earlier in the week. On Sunday, January 19, three Israeli women were freed in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners, marking the beginning of the ceasefire.

Under the terms of the ceasefire’s first phase, 33 hostages are expected to be released from Gaza, with around 1,900 Palestinians set to be freed as well. This phase also includes a major boost in humanitarian aid to Gaza and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from certain areas.

Efforts to finalize the second phase of the truce are ongoing, with the United States, Egypt, and Qatar working together as mediators.