Palestinian militants arrive at Gaza site before hostage handover

30/1/2025 15:55

Militants from Hamas and allied groups Islamic Jihad and Popular Resistance Committees arrived at a site in Khan Younis in Gaza ahead of the handover of Israeli hostages on Thursday Hamas sources and witnesses said, as part of a ceasefire deal.



Three Israeli hostages are expected to be freed on Thursday in return for 110 Palestinian prisoners.



The spokesman of the Islamic Jihad armed wing said on the Telegram platform that the group "completed procedures to hand over two Israeli hostages."



Dozens of armed militants arrived on the street where Hamas leader Yahya Al-Sinwar was killed during the Gaza war with Israel, which has left tens of thousands of Palestinians dead and turned the tiny coastal enclave into a wasteland of rubble.



Three Israeli civilians and four soldiers - all women - have been released so far in the ceasefire, which began on Jan. 19. In return, Israel has released 290 Palestinian convicts and detainees.