Mon Jan 27 18:41:22 UTC 2025: ## Israel to Release More Captives This Week, Hamas Confirms Eight Dead
**GAZA CITY/JERUSALEM** – Israel announced today that the phased release of Palestinian captives held by Hamas in Gaza will continue this week, with two more batches scheduled for Thursday and Saturday. This follows the revelation that eight of the 33 prisoners slated for release in the initial phase are dead, according to a Hamas-provided list.
Government spokesman David Mencer confirmed that Hamas has stated the remaining 25 are alive. The families of the deceased have been informed, though their names were not released. The announcement comes amidst the ongoing implementation of a ceasefire agreement reached in January, ending over 15 months of conflict.
The first phase of the prisoner exchange involves the release of 33 Palestinians in exchange for over 1,900 Palestinians held by Israel. This includes the release of two Israeli women, Arbel Yehud and Agam Berger, and a third unidentified captive on Thursday. The delayed release of Yehud last Saturday had led to accusations of Hamas violating the agreement and a subsequent Israeli blockade of northern Gaza. Following Hamas’s assurances of Yehud’s safety and commitment to the agreement, the blockade has been lifted, allowing hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to return home.
The ongoing repatriation follows a devastating war that left two-thirds of Gaza’s buildings destroyed or severely damaged and displaced approximately 90 percent of its 2.1 million residents. The Hamas-run Health Ministry reported a death toll of 47,317, with the number continuing to rise as bodies are recovered. At least 111,494 were wounded. In Israel, at least 1,139 were killed in the initial Hamas attacks in October 2023. Approximately 90 Palestinian captives remain in Hamas’s custody. The prisoner exchange continues to be a key element in efforts to stabilize the fragile peace.
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