Gaza

The Palestinian militant group made public on Friday the names of the next four hostages that it plans to release as part of the ceasefire deal signed with Israel. Israel is expected to publish a list of its own, naming Palestinian prisoners it will release in return.

15 months of the most intensive fighting ever seen between the IDF and Hamas have reduced vast swathes of Gaza to rubble and rebuilding is expected to take decades.

Lt Gen Herzi Halevi said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would complete an investigation into the 2023 attack by Hamas before he steps down in March.

According to a list provided by the Palestinian Authority’s Commission for Prisoners’ Affairs all of those released are women or minors.

In the days after the fragile Gaza ceasefire, violence has surged in the West Bank, with an Israeli military strike on the Jenin refugee camp killing six. Meanwhile, Gaza residents return to destroyed homes in the territory.

Thousands of Gazans have begun to travel back to the homes they evacuated earlier in the war.

Hamas blamed the delay in handing over the names on “technical field reasons.” It said in a statement that it is committed to the ceasefire deal announced last week.

The ceasefire goes into effect on Sunday, though some questions remain, including the names of the 33 hostages to be released during the six-week first phase.

Under the deal reached Wednesday, 33 hostages are set to be released over the next six weeks in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, according to reports.

At least 17 Palestinians killed in Gaza as Israeli airstrikes on the enclave continue as Israel and Hamas appear to narrow in on a ceasefire deal.