Hamas will release six hostages this week and Israel will allow Gazans to return to homes in the north from Monday, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says.
The hostages include Arbel Yehud – the civilian at the center of a row that has led to Israel delaying the return of Gazans to northern Gaza.
Hamas released four soldiers on Saturday, but not Ms Yehud. Israel accused Hamas of breaching the ceasefire deal under which Israeli civilians were to be freed first in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Since the ceasefire deal came into force, seven hostages and just under 300 prisoners have been released.
Thousands of displaced Palestinians attempting to reach northern Gaza have gathered at the military barrier blocking their progress for two days.
The ceasefire and hostage and prisoner release deal came into force on 19 January. Two exchanges have been completed.
In the third, Hamas will release Ms Yehud and two other hostages on Thursday, followed by three more on Saturday, Netanyahu, and Qatar, which has mediated the talks, said.
Israel will begin to allow Palestinians to move north on Monday, as well as freeing more Palestinian prisoners later in the week.
Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, Palestinians had been scheduled to be allowed to travel north of the Netzarim Corridor, a seven kilometer (4.3 miles) strip of land controlled by Israel that cuts off north Gaza from the rest of the territory, on Saturday.
Israel has now said it will allow residents to return to the northern Gaza Strip from 07:00 (09:00 GMT) on Monday, and by vehicle two hours later, after the row over Ms Yehud was resolved.
Qatari and Egyptian mediators who have facilitated talks between Israel and Hamas were involved in the efforts to end the dispute. Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman announced the breakthrough moments before Israel’s prime minister.
