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Hamas will release six prisoners this week and Israel will allow Gazans to return to their homes in the north from Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says.
The hostages include Arbel Yehud – a civilian who is at the center of the row that has led Israel to delay the return of Gazans to northern Gaza.
Hamas released four soldiers on Saturday, but not Yehud. Israel accused Hamas of violating a cease-fire agreement that required Israeli civilians to be released before Palestinian prisoners could be released.
Since the cease-fire agreement came into effect, 7 hostages and more than 200 prisoners have been released.
Thousands of Palestinians trying to reach northern Gaza have gathered at an army checkpoint that has been blocking their passage for two days.
The cease-fire agreement and the release of prisoners came into force on 19 January. Two exchanges are complete.
Third, Hamas will release Ms Yehud and two other hostages on Friday, followed by three others on Saturday, Netanyahu and Qatar, who coordinated the talks.
Israel will begin allowing Palestinians to travel north on Monday, as well as release more Palestinian prisoners by the end of the week.
Under the cease-fire agreement, Palestinians were to be allowed to travel north of the Netzarim Corridor, a seven-kilometer (4.3 miles) strip of land controlled by Israel that cuts off northern Gaza from the rest of the territory, on Saturday. .
Pictures show huge crowds waiting to get through.
Qatari and Egyptian mediators who facilitated talks between Israel and Hamas have stepped in to try to resolve the dispute over Mrs. Yehud. The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar announced the victory in the presence of the Prime Minister of Israel.
Israel asked mediators to provide evidence from Hamas that Ms Yehud was alive. It appears to have been handed over to the Egyptians since Saturday evening, the BBC understands.
The January agreement ended the war that began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. About 1,200 people were killed and 251 returned to Gaza as hostages.
More than 47,200 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed in the Israeli offensive, the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza has said.
