A fourth exchange is scheduled for the weekend, but Hamas accused Israel on Wednesday of jeopardising the deal by holding up aid deliveries, an allegation Israel dismissed as "fake news".

Steven Witkoff, who played an important role in brokering the truce between Israel and Hamas, also met with Israel’s prime minister and visited Saudi Arabia.

Ali Al-Ansari, media attache to the Qatari Embassy to the United States, told Newsweek his nation "appreciates the important role and positive impact of President Trump and his administration, particularly the efforts of his special envoy Steve Witkoff, in finalizing the agreement."

The return of fighters to Gaza streets highlights how Israeli bombardment has failed to achieve Netanyahu’s goal or eradicating Hamas as a political force.

“Gaza, with its great people and its resilience, will rise again to rebuild what the occupation has destroyed and continue on the path of steadfastness until the occupation is defeated,” Hamas said in a statement after the cease-fire.

Hamas set to release three Israeli and five Thai nationals from Gaza on Thursday - Three Israelis, including an 80-year-old man and a female Israeli soldier, are among eight due to be returned to Isra

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Hamas on Friday published the names of four hostages it said it would release the following day as part of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Israel has begun allowing Palestinians to return to the heavily destroyed north of the Gaza Strip for the first time since the early weeks of the 15-month war with Hamas.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed 15 months ago that Israel would achieve “total victory” in the war in Gaza — by eradicating Hamas and freeing all the hostages.

Hamas apparently does not insist on retaining control over the Gaza Strip and would not accept any power other than its own in the coastal strip,

The talks on where to send the released terrorists are reportedly being conducted in full coordination with Jerusalem.