Tel Aviv, 25 January 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Israel and the Palestinian militant organization Hamas were preparing to exchange four Israeli hostages for a group of Palestinian prisoners on Saturday, in the second swap since the ceasefire in the Gaza war began.

The Israeli military has completed its preparations for the handover of the four hostages, a spokesman confirmed.

Preparations were also under way in Gaza City, where dozens of uniformed and masked Hamas fighters with weapons and flags were stationed at the handover point, surrounded by onlookers, images from Qatar's Al Jazeera television channel showed.

Al Jazeera also broadcast images of vehicles from the International Committee of the Red Cross, which is facilitating the exchange, driving from Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip to the Kerem Shalom border crossing.

Hamas on Friday released the names of the four Israeli hostages who are to be freed: Daniella Gilboa, Karina Ariev, Liri Albag and Naama Levy. The four female soldiers were scouts at the Nahal Oz base near the Gaza Strip border and were abducted by militants during the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023.

The Israeli military said reception points have been set up where the hostages are to receive initial medical care and personal support, before being taken to hospitals and reunited with their families.

"We are all excited," said Sharon Nakash, the logistics commander.

A three-stage ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas was brokered in mid-January after months-long efforts by the United States, Egypt and Qatar to mediate between the warring parties.

Photo: MIA archive