Israel warns of war as Hamas confirms 3 Gaza captives to be freed

By Staff Reporter
Hamas said it will release three captives from Gaza on Saturday as scheduled following talks with ceasefire mediators Egypt and Qatar.
Israel has said Hamas must release three living captives or Israeli forces will return to war in the Palestinian territory.
Hamas spokesperson Abdul Latif al-Qanou said the language of threats made against Gaza by United States President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not serve the Gaza ceasefire’s implementation.
A senior UN official has likened the devastation in the Gaza Strip to “a massive earthquake” and said efforts must be made to avoid a continuing “humanitarian catastrophe”.
Gaza’s Health Ministry has confirmed 48,239 deaths in Israel’s war on Gaza while 111,676 people have been wounded. The Government Media Office has updated its death toll to at least 61,709 people, saying thousands missing under the rubble are now presumed dead.
At least 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the October 7, 2023 attacks and more than 200 were taken captive.