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Thirty-three hostages are set to be released in the ceasefire's first phase.

Last Updated: February 1, 2025, 1:26 PM EST

Many residents of northern Gaza and southern Lebanon are expected to return to their homes in the coming days and weeks, with most of the fighting in both areas paused under Israeli ceasefire agreements with Hamas and Hezbollah.

Under Israel's multi-phased deal with Hamas, some hostages held in the Gaza Strip and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have started to be released. Negotiations between Israel and Hamas are expected to continue amid the first phase of the deal, which was slated to last about six weeks.

Jan 29, 2025, 4:23 PM EST

110 Palestinian prisoners will be released on Thursday

The Israelis will release about 110 Palestinian prisoners Thursday, according to the Prison Media Office.

Within the first phase of the exchange deal, 32 prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment, 48 prisoners with high sentences and 30 child prisoners will be released.

Hamas will release three Israeli hostages as well as five Thai nationals. The Israelis set to be released have been identified as Arbel Yehoud, Agam Berger and Gadi Moses.

This picture shows a portrait poster of Arbel Yehoud, 29, an Israeli hostage held in the Gaza Strip since the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel by Palestinian Hamas militants.
AFP via Getty Images

The exchange is set to begin at 3 a.m. EST, according to sources.

Jan 29, 2025, 11:34 AM EST

3 hostages set to be released Thursday have been identified

The names of the three hostages set to be released Thursday have been identified, according to the Hostage Center. American Keith Seigal is not on the list for Thursday's release.

“The Families' Headquarters for the Return of the Abductees welcomes the good news of the expected release of Arbel Yehud, Agam Berger and Gadi Mozes after 482 days in Hamas captivity. An entire people is fighting for them and eagerly awaits their long-awaited return to the arms of their families,” a spokesperson for the Families’ Headquarters for the Return of the Abductees said in a statement on Wednesday.

Israeli hostage Agam Berger, a soldier who was seized from her army base in southern Israel during the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, is pictured in this undated handout photo.
Courtesy Of Bring Them Home Now via Reuters

“We have the sacred duty and moral right to return all our brothers and sisters home. We will not give up and will not stop at any stage until all the abductees return home within the framework of the current agreement, until the last abductee — the living for rehabilitation and the dead for a proper burial in their country,” the spokesperson said.

“The families of the abductees were informed by IDF liaison officers of the names of the abductees who will be released tomorrow, in the third wave of the plan. According to the agreement, the next wave, in which 3 additional abductees (men who are alive) are to be released, will take place on Saturday. The families will be informed of the names of those being released on Friday,” said the directorate of abductees, returnees and missing persons in the Israeli Prime Minister's Office.

Jan 29, 2025, 11:17 AM EST

IDF will remain in Jenin refugee camp even after current operation is over, Israeli defense minister says

After significantly increasing operations in the West Bank over the past two weeks, the Israeli defense minister is now saying the IDF will stay in Jenin even after they complete the current ongoing operation there.

“We have declared war on Palestinian terrorism in Judea and Samaria. Operation Iron Wall is intended to crush the terrorist infrastructures built in the Palestinian refugee camps with Iranian funding and armament. The Jenin refugee camp will not return to what it was after the operation is completed, the IDF will remain in the camp to ensure that terrorism does not return,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday.

"I am sending a clear message from here to the Palestinian Authority: Stop funding terrorism and the murder of Jews and start seriously fighting terrorism. Whoever funds the families of murderous terrorists and educates their children to destroy Israel — endangers its very existence,” Katz said.

Jan 28, 2025, 4:30 PM EST

2 killed, 6 injured in Israeli operation in the West Bank, IDF says

Israeli forces say two Palestinians were killed and six others were wounded “during counterterrorism operations” in the West Bank city of Jenin on Tuesday.

The Israel Defense Forces said it dismantled weapons storage facilities and a weapons manufacturing workshop during their operation in Jenin.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller

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