HAMAS has refused to provide a list of hostages to be released, which Israel claims violates the ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
As part of the agreements, the group was supposed to inform Israel by the end of Saturday about which of the remaining 26 hostages would be freed during the remaining part of the first phase of the deal.
Earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stated that displaced Palestinians would not be allowed to return to northern Gaza until Arbel Yehud, one of the civilian hostages, is released.
A senior representative of the militant group indicated that Yehud would be freed next week but did not specify the reasons for the apparent delay.
According to the agreement, HAMAS was to release women civilians before soldiers.
1Hundreds of Palestinians began gathering in Wadi Gaza on Saturday, hoping to return to the northern part of the enclave.
Wadi Gaza is a stream and marshy land that separates the north from the rest of the territory.
"I wait moment by moment. The closest hours separate us from returning to northern Gaza. I am waiting for permission to find my son, who died during the war, and to give him a proper burial," said one Palestinian woman.
The withdrawal of Israeli troops from populated areas and allowing displaced Palestinians to return home is one of the points in the ceasefire agreement between Israel and HAMAS, which came into effect on January 19.
2Another part of the ceasefire agreement was the exchange of HAMAS hostages for Palestinian prisoners. Under the terms of the deal, during the six-week first phase, HAMAS will release 33 hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
On Saturday, the second such exchange occurred when HAMAS released Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levi, and Liri Albag, Israeli women soldiers.
They were transported from Gaza by Red Cross vehicles on Saturday morning, and a few hours later, 200 Palestinians were released from prisons.
"It's an indescribable feeling. We didn't expect this situation, didn't expect my father to be released, but we thank God," said Rana Raf al-Farra, whose father was one of the Palestinians freed on Saturday.
Seventy of them were deported abroad for security reasons, while the others were returned to the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.
3Meanwhile, relatives of hostages still held by HAMAS in Gaza urged U.S. President Donald Trump to pressure Benjamin Netanyahu to continue the second phase of the ceasefire agreement during a weekly protest in Tel Aviv.
"Extremists in Netanyahu's coalition threaten to overthrow his government if he does not resume the war in Gaza," said Zahiro Shahar Mor, whose uncle Avraham Munder is still captive.
"Mr. Trump, do not allow this. Demand that Netanyahu fully implement the deal and start negotiations for the second phase right now."
The second phase of the deal includes steps toward a final cessation of hostilities in Gaza. Under this phase, HAMAS will release the remaining hostages, and Israel will agree to release about 1,000 Palestinians.
4At this stage, Israeli forces will also complete the full withdrawal of troops from Gaza.
The third and final phase involves the reconstruction of Gaza: HAMAS is expected to hand over the bodies of hostages who died in captivity in exchange for a reconstruction plan for the sector from Israel.
Details of the second and third phases must be agreed upon within six weeks of the first phase.
HAMAS instigated the war in October 2023 by invading southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths, with another 250 taken hostage in Gaza.
5Israel responded with a devastating offensive, resulting in over 46,000 Palestinian deaths, according to local health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and militants but state that women and children make up more than half of the deceased.
The UN stated on Saturday that over 13,000 children have died during the hostilities.
The conflict has destabilized the Middle East and sparked global protests, highlighting political tensions within Israel.