The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, released three Israeli captives on Saturday morning as part of an exchange deal under the Gaza ceasefire agreement. In return, Israel is set to release 183 Palestinian prisoners later today.

According to footage broadcast by Al Jazeera, French-Israeli national Ofer Kalderon and Israeli citizen Yarden Bibas were handed over to the Red Cross in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza. An hour later, American-Israeli national Keith Siegel was transferred to Red Cross personnel in Gaza City, in the north of the enclave.

Hundreds of Al-Qassam fighters were seen managing the crowd at both locations, as the captives waved to gathered Palestinian citizens before being transported to Israeli reception points.

The Hamas-led government in Gaza now anticipates the release of 183 Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons, including 18 serving life sentences and 111 who were detained in Gaza during Israel’s military campaign.

Under the terms of the ceasefire, 33 Israeli captives are to be freed in the first six weeks of the truce in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including women, children, and long-term detainees. So far, 15 captives held in Gaza—including five Thai workers—have been released as part of the ongoing prisoner swap.

Meanwhile, the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt is expected to open today, potentially facilitating the movement of humanitarian aid and evacuees. (ILKHA)