Hamas announces names of six living hostages to be freed on Saturday

Hamas has released the names of the six living hostages militants plan to release under the terms of the ceasefire.

The Hamas-linked Palestinian prisoners media office said over 600 Palestinians are also to be freed from Israeli prisons on Saturday.

The announcements are a sign the fragile deal remains on track despite tensions following revelations overnight that hostage Shiri Bibas’ body was not returned to Israel as promised by Hamas.

Hamas said it would release Omer Wenkert, 23; Omer Shem Tov, 22; Avera Mengistu, 39; Hisham Al-Sayed, 36; Tal Shoham, 40, and Eliya Cohen, 27, on Saturday.

Two of the men, Mengistu and Al-Sayed, are civilians who are mentally ill and who have been held since long before the war, after entering Gaza on their own over a decade ago.

Israel confirmed receiving the list.

It did not confirm the six names, which were confirmed earlier in the week by the Hostages and Missing Families forum, the group representing hostage families.

Of the Palestinian prisoners due to be released, 50 have been sentenced to life imprisonment and 60 were serving long prison sentences.

Also due for release are 445 prisoners from Gaza, held by Israel since October 7 2023.